Slayer - Hell Awaits
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Music CD Cover
Artist: SlayerEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1994-01-11
Music Label: Metal Blade
Soundtracks:
- Hell Awaits
- Kill Again
- At Dawn They Sleep
- Praise of Death
- Necrophiliac
- Crypts of Eternity
- Hardening of the Arteries
Free Music Notes for Hell Awaits
Free Music Review: Solid, But Stale After Repeated Listens
Hit: 5 Stars
I don't know about the rest of you, but I, for one, do not like the better production that graces the later albums like "God Hates Us All". When it comes to Slayer, I much prefer the low-quality production, for it adds to the evil sounds that are already present in the musicianship. Therefore, it shouldn't come to you as much of a surprise that this is one of my favorite albums from one of thrash's big four AND also among my top 10 favorite metal albums from the 80's AND also the only Slayer album I can listen to front to back without stopping out of boredom (there isn't very much variety on Slayer albums from a progressive point of view). Everything on this album is well-executed, from the tongue-twisting vocal stylings of frontman Tom Araya, the intense riffing and speedy solos from guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and the blistering speed of drummer Dave Lombardo (I'm sorry, but Paul Bostaph just didn't make the cut). This CD is one hell of a thrash metal offering and was very influential in shaping the future of thrash and progenating the then-new death metal scene.
Let's go through all of what Slayer is made up of. First is Tom Araya, the outspoken lead vocalist/bass player who plays some buzzing bass lines that give every song that extra push and crunchy depth that thrash metal is known for, as well as spitting out lyrics with a convicting tone and a rapid-fire delivery. However, the absence of any vocal melodies/harmonies is one of the reasons this album can get old fast. Guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman pump out chugging riffs and interchange the solos, pulling off some dissonant solos that usually add to the intensity of the music; however, the style in these solos don't change often and by the end of the album you'll be hard-pressed to remember any that really stand out from the rest. Drummer Dave Lombardo beats out some impassioned beats that beef up the already thick density that the rest of the band provides. I wouldn't place him amongst metal greatest drummers because of the lack of variety in his style, but I do have to give him points for being consistent in his style and not overdoing it on the double-bass. When placed together in a recording studio, these four provide some fervent, diabolic tunes that some have christened "the soundtrack to hell" (but if that's the case, hell would be much more tolerable, though I'd probably get quite sick of it after an eternity of nothing but Slayer. For me, hell's soundtrack is all this pop-punk/emo garbage that's dominating the music scene).
Bottom line: Slayer is a force to be reckoned with, standing out from the other three of thrash metal's Big Four as being darker and less accessible. However, Slayer is also the least musical of the four, their sound changing very little from their debut to their most recent effort "God Hates Us All", and the formula gets stale after repeated listens and there will most likely come a time when you'd rather not listen to it at all. But whether you're a seasoned metalhead or are looking into metal for the first time, this album is a good choice despite its flaws.
Track Selections: "Hell Awaits", "Necrophiliac", and "Hardening of the Arteries"
7/10
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