Origin: Los Angeles, California, USA  
Genres: Thrash Metal
Official Site
Last update/review: December 6, 2019

Slayer

No introduction necessary here, as Slayer is universally acknowledged as of the premier thrash bands of all time, with Reign In Blood, their most popular album, universally regarded as not just an absolute thrash classic but one of the best metal albums ever. Cut from the same cloth as Metallica (the two debut albums do have similarities), and arguably just as influential, though clearly the musical directions of the two bands grew apart. The band's style has largely remained unchanged over the years, and so has their popularity, as they are still a huge draw live well into their third decade as an active band.

The lineup has largely stayed the same over the years, but recent events have changed that. Drummer Dave Lombardo has been in and out of the band several times, both officially and unofficially. As of this writing, he is unofficially out of the band, with Jon Dette filling his role on tour. Finally, guitarist Jeff Hanneman contracted a rare flesh-eating disease in 2011, forcing him to step aside from the band. Sadly, he passed away in May 2013 from liver failure. Exodus's Gary Holt has been playing live with the band as a replacement, but he has not been named an official member of the band.

Current Members

Tom Araya

bass/vocals

Kerry King

guitars

Gary Holt

guitars (Exodus)

Paul Bostaph

drums (ex-Exodus, ex-Forbidden, ex-Systematic, ex-Testament)

Former Members/Guests

Jeff Hanneman

guitars RIP: May 2, 2013, liver failure, age 49

Dave Lombardo

drums (guest for Annihilator, Dead Cross, Fantômas, ex-Grip Inc., Mr. Bungle, ex-Suicidal Tendencies, Testament, ex-Voodoocult)


Discography



Show No Mercy  
1983 Metal Blade
  1. Evil Has No Boundaries
  2. The Antichrist
  3. Die By The Sword
  4. Fight Till Death
  5. Face The Slayer
  6. Black Magic
  7. Tormentor
  8. The Final Command
  9. Crionics
  10. Show No Mercy
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Dave Lombardo
1983 Readers' Album #4



Haunting The Chapel  EP
1984 Metal Blade
  1. Chemical Warfare
  2. Captor Of Sin
  3. Haunting The Chapel
  4. Aggressive Perfector
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Dave Lombardo
1984 Readers' Album #8



Hell Awaits  
1985 Metal Blade
  1. Hell awaits
  2. Kill again
  3. At dawn they sleep
  4. Praise of death
  5. Necrophiliac
  6. Crypts of eternity
  7. Hardening of the arteries
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Dave Lombardo
1985 Readers' Album #1

1985 BNR Top Ten Album



Live Undead  LIVE EP
1985 Metal Blade
  1. Black Magic
  2. Die By The Sword
  3. Captor Of Sin
  4. Antichrist
  5. Evil Has No Boundaries
  6. Show No Mercy
  7. Aggressive Perfector
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Dave Lombardo


Reign In Blood  
1986 Def American
  1. Angel of death
  2. Piece by piece
  3. Necrophobic
  4. Altar of sacrifice
  5. Jesus saves
  6. Criminally insane
  7. Reborn
  8. Epidemic
  9. Postmortem
  10. Raining blood
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Dave Lombardo
1986 Readers' Album #2

1986 BNR Top Ten Album



South Of Heaven  
1988 Def American
  1. South of heaven
  2. Silent scream
  3. Live undead
  4. Behind the crooked cross
  5. Mandatory suicide
  6. Ghosts of war
  7. Read Between the Lies
  8. Cleanse the soul
  9. Dissident aggressor
  10. Spill the blood
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Dave Lombardo
1988 Readers' Album #3

1988 BNR Top Ten Album



Seasons In The Abyss  
1990 Def American
  1. War Ensemble
  2. Blood Red
  3. Spirit In Black
  4. Expendable Youth
  5. Dead Skin Mask
  6. Hallowed Point
  7. Skeletons Of Society
  8. Temptation
  9. Born Of Fire
  10. Seasons in the Abyss
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Dave Lombardo
1990 Readers' Album #1

1990 BNR Top Ten Album



Decade Of Aggression  LIVE
1993 American
  1. Hell Awaits
  2. The Anti-Christ
  3. War Ensemble
  4. South Of Heaven
  5. Raining Blood
  6. Altar Of Sacrifice
  7. Jesus Saves
  8. Dead Skin Mask
  9. Seasons In The Abyss
  10. Mandatory Suicide
  11. Angel Of Death
  12. Hallowed Point
  13. Blood Red
  14. Die By The Sword
  15. Black Magic
  16. Captor Of Sin
  17. Born Of Fire
  18. Postmortem
  19. Spirit In Black
  20. Expendable Youth
  21. Chemical Warfare
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Dave Lombardo
1993 Readers' Album #24



Divine Intervention  
1994 American
  1. Killing Fields
  2. Sex, Murder, Art
  3. Fictional Reality
  4. Dittohead
  5. Divine Intervention
  6. Circle of Beliefs
  7. SS-3
  8. Serenity in Murder
  9. 213
  10. Mind Control
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Paul Bostaph
1994 Readers' Album #4



Undisputed Attitude (covers)  
1996 American
  1. I'm Gonna Be Your God
  2. Abolish Government
  3. Can't Stand You
  4. Disintegration/Free Money
  5. Filler/I Don't Want to Hear It (Medley)
  6. Gemini
  7. Guilty fo Being White
  8. I Hate You
  9. Mr. Freeze
  10. Richard Hung Himself
  11. Spiritual Law
  12. Verbal Abuse/Leeches (Medley)
  13. Violent Pacification
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Paul Bostaph
1996 Readers' Album #48



Diabolus In Musica  
1998 American
  1. Bitter Peace
  2. Death's Head
  3. Stain of Mind
  4. Overt Enemy
  5. Perversions of Pain
  6. Love to Hate
  7. Desire
  8. In the name of God
  9. Scrum
  10. Screaming from the Sky
  11. Wicked (Eur/Jap)
  12. Point
  13. Unguarded Instinct (Jap)
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Paul Bostaph
1998 Readers' Album #2



God Hates Us All  
2001 American
  1. Darkness Of Christ
  2. Disciple
  3. God Send Death
  4. New Faith
  5. Cast Down
  6. Threshold
  7. Exile
  8. Seven Faces
  9. Bloodline
  10. Deviance
  11. War Zone
  12. Here Comes The Pain
  13. Payback
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Paul Bostaph
2001 Readers' Album #2



War At The Warfield  VIDEO
2003 Elektra


Still Reigning  VIDEO
2004 American


Christ Illusion  
2006 American
  1. Flesh Storm
  2. Catalyst
  3. Eyes of the Insane
  4. Jihad
  5. Skeleton Christ
  6. Consfearacy
  7. Catatonic
  8. Black Serenade
  9. Cult
  10. Supremist
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Dave Lombardo
2006 Readers' Album #2



French Connection  VIDEO
2009 American


World Painted Blood  
2009 American
  1. World Painted Blood
  2. Unit 731
  3. Snuff
  4. Beauty Through Disorder
  5. Hate Worldwide
  6. Public Display of Dismemberment
  7. Human Strain
  8. Americon
  9. Psycopathy Red
  10. Playing With Dolls
  11. Not of This God
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Jeff Hanneman
  • Dave Lombardo
2009 Readers' Album #2

2009 BNR Top Ten Album



Repentless  
2015 Nuclear Blast
  1. Delusions of Saviour
  2. Repentless
  3. Take Control
  4. Vices
  5. Cast the First Stone
  6. When the Stillness Comes
  7. Chasing Death
  8. Implode
  9. Piano Wire
  10. Atrocity Vendor
  11. You Against You
  12. Pride in Prejudice
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Gary Holt
  • Paul Bostaph
2015 Readers' Album #2

2015 BNR Top Ten Album



The Repentless Killogy  LIVE
2019 Nuclear Blast
  1. . Delusions of Saviour
  2. Repentless
  3. The Antichrist
  4. Disciple
  5. Postmortem
  6. Hate Worldwide
  7. War Ensemble
  8. When the Stillness Comes
  9. You Against You
  10. Mandatory Suicide
  11. Hallowed Point
  12. Dead Skin Mask
  13. Born of Fire
  14. Cast the First Stone
  15. Bloodline
  16. Seasons in the Abyss
  17. Hell Awaits
  18. South of Heaven
  19. Raining Blood
  20. Chemical Warfare
  21. Angel of Death
  • Tom Araya
  • Kerry King
  • Gary Holt
  • Paul Bostaph



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