Slayer

Slayer’s Debut “Show No Mercy” Turns 40

December 4, 2023

There was once a metal world without Slayer, as hard as that is to imagine. That world changed forever with this album. Show No Mercy is a giant’s first loud footstep.

Our Tribute To Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman, Who Died Ten Years Ago Today

May 2, 2023

Ten years ago today Slayer’s iconic guitarist and songwriter Jeff Hanneman died. Just days before we were set to go to the print, we scrapped the planned issue and instead printed a nine-page tribute to Hanneman. Here it is.

Five Heavy Albums that Changed My Life with Rocky of Voivod

February 3, 2022

We caught up with Voivod bassist Dominic “Rocky” Laroche to find out what five heavy albums changed his life. To Morgoth! (Not the band!)

Five Heavy Albums that Changed My Life with Dan Weyandt of Zao

April 8, 2021

To celebrate the release of their new album, The Crimson Corridor, we find out what five heavy albums changed Zao vocalist Dan Weyandt’s life.

Slayer, Maiden & Metallica: Buzz Osborne Remembers 1983

February 10, 2021

The Melvins will unleash their new record, Working With God on February 26. It’s the second album from the Melvins 1983 lineup, so we wind back the clock with King Buzzo.

Five Heavy Albums that Changed My Life with Peter Wiwczarek of Vader

April 30, 2020

To celebrate the release of Vader’s new album, Solitude in Madness, we caught up with vocalist/guitarist Peter Wiwczarek to find out what five heavy albums changed his life.

Tales From the Metalnomicon: ‘Suburban Grindhouse’ Author Nick Cato’s Top 5 Most Metal Grindhouse Moments

June 5, 2019

Heavy metal devotee and underground writer/editor extraordinaire Nick Cato takes us on a back row tour extremely extreme, metal-friendly cinema.

Five Heavy Albums that Changed My Life with Dave Bland of Full of Hell

May 16, 2019

To celebrate the release of Full of Hell’s new album, Weeping Choir, we caught up with drummer Dave Bland to find out what five heavy albums changed his life.

Suicidal Tendencies Are Still Cyco Punk and Loving It

October 1, 2018

For their latest release, Suicidal Tendencies dove into the vault and came out with new album Still Cyco Punk After All These Years. Decibel spoke with the band to learn more.

Gone Five Years: Our Cover Story on Jeff Hanneman’s Life and Legacy

May 2, 2018

Remembering one of extreme metal’s most iconic figures, Slayer‘s Jeff Hanneman, five years after his death.

Slayer Tease Final World Tour

January 22, 2018

Slayer‘s cryptic video message has left the future of the band unclear.

Five Times Shorter Was Better

August 31, 2017

Quantity isn’t quality. Here are five examples of how extreme metal is at its most potent when it doesn’t waste time.

Justify Your Shitty Taste: Slayer “God Hates Us All”

March 29, 2017

Slayer’s eighth LP of original material, God Hates Us All, stands as one of their most divisive. To some, it appeared to be another record in which the thrash icons failed to diversify their songwriting.

SPOILER: Decibel Reveals the Greatest Metal Tour of All Time in Special Issue!

March 24, 2017

You can read the story behind the #1 entry in Decibel’s Top 100 Metal Tours of All Time Special Issue. For the other 99 tours, you’ll need copy of this limited edition Special Issue

That Tour Was Awesome: Ultimate Revenge Tour, Venom/Slayer/Exodus (1985)

February 22, 2017

As a special bonus to go along with our new Top 100 Metal Tours of All Time special issue, we rounded up members of Exodus, Slayer and Venom to talk about 1985’s Ultimate Revenge Tour for our latest That Tour Was Awesome.

Decibel Presents The Top 100 Metal Tours of All Time Special Issue

February 17, 2017

What are the Top 100 metal tours of all time? Find out in Decibel‘s new limited edition special issue of 100% previously-unprinted content. 

Pre-Order the Decibel Hall of Fame Anthology: Vol. II Book!

October 31, 2016

Decibel has complied 25 of our best Hall of Fame pieces into a brand new hardcover, limited-edition, hand-numbered anthology, exclusively available here.

Hall of Fame Countdown: Slayer’s South of Heaven

July 7, 2016

It’s weird to think of any Slayer album as “transitional,” as they all share the same basic sonic sensibilities (namely, the sound of your skin being flayed from your quaking bones), but if there’s any record that marks a clear turning point in their career, it’s 1988’s South of Heaven.

They Did It All for the Nookie: Decibel Explores the Rise and Fall of Nu-Metal

August 13, 2015

The intro is long. Nearly 50 seconds without tipping its hand. A new band should be terrified to open a record like this, worried that potential listeners will get bored with a lone ride cymbal and high, jangly guitar chord. And it’s certainly not something a discerning producer is going to throw on the radio. But then comes that growl—Are you reeeeeaaaady?!—and you hear a musical revolution being born… Which then died, less than a decade later.

Hall of Fame Countdown: Slayer’s Reign in Blood

April 30, 2015

There are not many perfect albums in heavy metal history, but Slayer’s Reign in Blood is one of them. Personally, in this writer’s opinion, when it comes to the greatest metal album of all time, it’s a toss-up between Reign in Blood, Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, and Paranoid. We’re dealing with an untouchable album here. Well, near untouchable, as Decibel’s Andrew Bonazelli had the brilliant idea for a new way for us to argue about our favorite metal records: why not rank the songs on each Decibel Hall of Fame inductee? Sure, why not?

Decibel’s Top 5 Thrash Metal Logos

June 23, 2014

5. Sabbat Brit thrashers Sabbat were among a select few to come from the island to have made a genuine impact. To this very day, Dreamweaver remains singular. The group’s logo also has similar import. Like most thrash metal logos, it’s readable at a distance yet it has an edge to it. Each letter in…