Slayer

The definitive behind-the-scenes histories of 50 of the greatest miracles of metal creation now immortalized in Volume I and Volume IV of Decibel Hall of Fame Anthologies.

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.

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.

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

Chilean thrashers Mental Devastation premiere new ripping album The Delusional Mystery of the Self (Part I) (Blood Harvest).

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.

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.

The Mexican American horror author V Castro brings heavy metal fire to the Latinx Screams anthology.

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.

CONTEST: Win tickets to Heavy Montreal!

In which we explore the best of the ’80s thrash metal cover brigade.

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

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.

Watch a new trailer for the best heavy metal zombie flick you didn’t know you needed.

How could Slayer improve their setlist on their final tour?

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.

Five Finger Death Punch bassist Chris Kael ranks his top five extreme metal albums.

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

See what Hoof Hearted are bringing to Decibel Metal & Beer Fest.

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

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

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

The definitive stories of 25 of the greatest metal albums ever recorded now all in one anthology. 

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

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.

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.

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?