Slayer's Reign in Blood (33 1/3) Read Online Free PDF

eventually score at least one platinum record. Three of them released albums that year, which was arguably the genre’s artistic peak.
    “Those were the epiphany albums for the thrash and speed-metal genre,” says former Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson. “Those were our statements as thrash pioneers. After that, the die had been cast.”
    Metallica’s
Master of Puppets
ranged from short blasts to nine-minute epics with acoustic intros and climactic jams. Signed to Elektra Records, the band would be the first thrash band to graduate to arenas, and they’d never look back. 1991’s
Metallica
(the Black Album) alone would sell over 15 million copies, and the group became one of the biggest rock bandsin the world, period. It’s certainly good work if you can get it, but the disc doesn’t have the same kick as their debut, 1983’s
Kill ’Em All
.
    Megadeth’s
Peace Sells … But Who’s Buyin’?
marked the pinnacle of the Black Sabbath blues-and-jazz-influenced tradition. Led by original Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine, the group dealt in blistering leads, bloody imagery, and vaguely political lyrics. The group’s hard-partying ways hobbled the group, and lineups shattered. Megadeth effectively became the Dave Mustaine Band. It drifted far from its classic form, but scored Capitol Records five platinum plaques in the process.
    Representing New York City, Anthrax came to the party late. Island Records released
Among the Living
in 1987. Anthrax would make “mosh” a household word and put a friendlier face on thrash. The most accessible big four band wrote songs about comic books and Stephen King novels. Later, the B-side “I’m the Man” would spark rap metal. Over the years, the band endured lineup changes, and kept making good records that were markedly less thrashy.
    Shortest and fastest of the ’86 vintage was Slayer’s
Reign in Blood
, twenty-nine minutes of punk-bred aggression. Slayer’s third album was released on Def Jam Records, home of L.L. Cool J and the Beastie Boys. Over twenty years later, Slayer’s same four members still play with lethal intent. They still bang their heads. They’re still pissed off about religion. They’re still fast.
    “I think Slayer, when you look at the biggest bands from the thrash scene, they certainly stayed true to their thrash roots more than any other members of the big four,” says Ernst. “They’re pretty much still the reigning kings of thrash. They’re gods in the metal scene.”
    Slayer is respected by pundits, acknowledged by theNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and beloved by fans. With a pure-thrash discography, the uncompromising group is a role model for generations of musicians.
Reign in Blood
is their definitive statement.
    “The best thrash metal band of all times,” says Angela Gossow, singer of Sweden’s Arch Enemy. “Whoever does not own
Reign in Blood
doesn’t know metal history. It’s a genre-defining milestone, a relentless assault of some of the best thrash metal riffs one could ever come up with. Lots of bands are stealing from it, but never manage to execute it in the same sadistic manner.”

“Metalstorm: Face the Slayer”
    In 1987,
Hit Parader
’s Anne Leighton noted that Slayer “come across as merely West Coast guys who happened to have picked up Stratocasters instead of surf boards.” 5 They still do.
    Hanneman’s a blond Cali dude who says “hella” when he means “very.” Lombardo takes a hushed, reverent tone when he talks about his wife and kids. Araya brings his family on tour, and he comes across as a mellow soul. King’s equally content talking about Judas Priest or the Raiders. Lombardo’s the most introspective; the other three simply do what they do. Not one of them seems to have the kind of self-aggrandizing personal mythology that’s common with less accomplished groups.
    The creators’ recollections of the
Reign
era are often vague: Decades of constant activity have slightly faded