Reign In Blood

Uhh...mom come pick me up im scared?

I was gonna write something about the big 4, their skill as musicians, laying the groundwork for death metal, blah blah blah... but really, there is only one thing that needs to be said here: *deep breath* FUUCKIIIINNNGGG SLAAAAYYEEEERRRRRRRR!!!!!!

This project has enabled me, for the first time, to be able to tell you the difference between a number of heavy metal bands. Slayer is no Metallica. In this relentless 28 minutes there is no variance of tempo, no recognizable riffs or remarkable solos, and neither melody nor rhythm to any of the lyrics. I couldn't tell you which song is which upon hearing a sample. Is it bad that I laughed out loud a few times listening to this? Is "How can we really freak mom out?" the sole driver of this creation? There is absolutely no meter or structure to the random, screamed lyrics. I was trying to imagine what else might be performed in this manner. Julia Child's recipe for Bœuf Bourgignon? And then it hit me that I wanted to hear the poem "This is Just to Say" performed in this manner. "...so cooooooooooooooooooold!" This isn't to say that it doesn't represent its genre well. It has a consistent badass sound and scary lyrics. I love the scream at the beginning of "Angel of Death" but it did make me laugh as I listened to it over and over, and I'm not sure that's the intended effect. Some of my favorite lyrics: "How long can you last in this frozen water burial?" "Dismembered destiny" "Transforming five toes to two" and "These shackles will be useless when your life is out of time" I love that the somewhat timely "Epidemic" ("pulmonary overthrow") ends with the ominous line, "Years will pass before it can be cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuured!" Hail, Satan!

I was today years-old when I discovered I was a Slayer fan...

J'ai fait écouter cet album à Satan qui m'a bien confirmé que c'était de la merde.

Relentless power. Feels so frenetic and dangerous. Makes me happy that music like this exists. The solo at the end of Jesus Saves is a thing of beauty.

i had shitty taste in music at 15

I have nothing smart to say about this. It's hard, fast, and utterly devoid of good taste. LOVE IT

Absolute genius in its own way. Essentially, this is the same basic musical setup as The Beatles or Booker T and the MGs but THIS music sounds like it’s from another planet which is terrifying and frightening. Slayer get this sound out of those same instruments. Music is incredible. I couldn’t listen to this too many times but I’m glad I have heard it.

I like the music, but the satanic lyrics make them look gay

So I have mentioned this before, but I thoroughly enjoy hard/heavy music - so Zeppelin, Sabbath, Nazareth, UFO, Iron Maiden, Tool, Metallica, Dio, Scorpions, Priest etc. - as are all in my wheelhouse, but for some reason, speed and thrash metal, have never really appealed to me - and this album was NO different... Once again, we have a band that is trying to play as fast as possible, along with almost NON-EXISTIENT vocals - which did absolutely nothing for me... BTW - just because a drummer has mastered the double bass pedal from a speed perspective, doesn't mean that you should use it ALL the freakin' time... And vocally, there is no melody of any sort, no singing of any kind - just screaming, and the lyrics are just dreadful... I'm beginning to think that my issue with this genre, is that there is absolutely NO room for the music to breathe... Good music is a nice balance between the notes, and the empty spaces - with some arguing that the empty spaces - and the contrast that they create with the actual notes, is what creates musical magic... This band is trying to play as many notes as the possibly can, and trying to play them as fast as they possibly can, that there is absolutely no space for the music to breathe - like AT ALL... Not a decent song on the album in my opinion, and in fact, I was running through what some of the reviewers thought were the best songs on the album a 2nd time through... So I was listening to "Alter Of Sacrifice" and was about 35 seconds into it, when I REALLY began to regret my decision... Fortunately, right about then, a good friend called - which stopped my music app so I could take the call... I answered by saying "...Thank God you called, I really appreciate you saving me..." : ) Would truly give this a "0" (ZERO) if I could, and I think there may have been only 1 other album to date that I thought that about - so 1-star for this dreadful, dismal, awful-excuse-for-an-album...

Great album. Could listen to this on repeat all week and it would still be epic on the seventh day. In fact I'm sure that's what God was doing on the seventh day. He was so awed by their awesomeness he just had to kick back, drink some beers and listen to some Slayer.

Absolute masterpiece. Not just one of my favorite metal albums, one of my favorite albums ever! Extremely hype, intense, fast-paced, horrifying, heart-pounding...and PERFECT.

metal has never been my thing. I suppose there’s a certain level of artifice present within the lyrics and presentation of bands like Slayer. Songs like Angel of Death and Postmortem simply feel performative to me in terms of lyrical content. Maybe it’s more a rejection of the genre clichés than the music itself for me personally. It's competently made music, well put together and a pleasingly brief in a satisfying way. I simply have no wish to ever listen to it again, but am glad I did if only to gain insight into a genre I still have no draw towards. 6/10

Harmless satanism, breakneck speed, and some kind of purity--by which, I think I mean that, thanks to Rick Rubin, the songs are short and focussed. The lyrics and vocals are beyond silly, and all the better for it. Tom Araya yells like he's had wet cement poured into his veins and is trying to get his words out before it dries. All of which makes the technical showboating genuinely exciting rather than the drag it usually is. Deliberately overrating this because I can.

More punk than I thought, so that was kind of cool, but couldn't get behind the lyrics.

A bunch of self-absorbed dweebs, hellbent on making their mothers dislike their art, stumble upon both the Nuremberg transcripts and a second brain cell. They resolve to make a completely tasteless first track in the name of being edgy. I imagine adolescent boys and maladjusted art critics spend forever trying to justify it, but literally nobody wants to be at that conference. 2 stars as a result, which is a shame, because the music was occasionally enjoyable.

I should love Slayer given my metal tastes, but I just don't.

I could write a long winded review or I could tell you about the time I blasted Raining Blood ear splitting volume to scare away seagulls trying to steal my fish and chips. This was done much to my then 3 year old daughter's delight

This is my second favourite album from Slayer (first one is without doubt Seasons in the Abyss). Great work.

😲

Soul crushing and demonic I love it!

Raining BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD

nothing like listening to Slayer to remind you how garbage lars ulrich's drums are in comparison

SLAYER! But Seasons in the Abyss is my favorite.

Brooooooo, no idea how anyone else will react to this (not well is my guess) but I was kind of bobbing along? Definitely not my type of music and I doubt I'll relisten but for what it is, great.

Wat een plaat! Live ook fantastisch om te zien.

I could appreciate the craft, but it was too loud and too angry for me.

Listened once. Just not my thing. 2/5.

No. 101/1001 Angel of Death 2/5 Piece by Piece 2/5 Necrophobic 2/5 Altar of Sacrifice 2/5 Jesus Saves 2/5 Criminally Insane 2/5 Reborn 2/5 Epidemic 2/5 Postmortem 2/5 Raining Blood 1/5 Average: 1,9 That's too heavy for me. Also was kinda repetitive.

Not for me

This is super not my kind of music. I finished it, but only because it's short. Maybe 1 star, I don't know. Really didn't enjoy this.

Man I try and give every artist a fair shake, but gogdamn, this stuff gives me a headache and makes me want to blowup the outside world. Thankfully, when I was debating this thought in my head, I thought of Soundgarden and Chris Cornell. Crisis averted. Not for me. Will never be for me. Looking forward to a great concert Saturday night and happy this album is behind me. Will not be revisited. 1

Hyper frenetic tempo throughout, vocals are simply dreadful …. If a zero star were allowable, this would be it ….

I love every single songs on this album. Definitely their greatest imo

They are very good at what they do. Not quite my style, but they are very good.

Burst of energy. Every fast metal band was influenced by this record. It holds up surprisingly well for an old heavy record. Favorite song: Raining Blood.

it's slayer

orginal version 28:55 kuunneltu.. uskomaton levy.. Ei häivähdystäkään epäaitoudesta.m pelkkää ehtaa kamaa..

YAAAAAAAAAAAÀAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. ... I will say that after about 20 minutes I was slightly numb from all the thrash. But then you've got the greatest metal song of all time to close out and it's only 28 minutes long. So. YAAAAAAAAAAAÀAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Love it.

Construção poderosa do metal

The best thrash album ever.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!" -Opening line of "Reign in Blood" if I remember correctly UPDATE: I remembered correctly. This album fucking TEARS. UPDATE 2: This one is an absolute burner. I don't think I've ever noticed that it's almost completely seamless. There's a slight break before Raining Blood kicks in but other than that it's just wall-to-wall insanity. Love it.

Classic album in the evolution of Thrash and metal as a whole. You can feel Rick Rubin's hands all over this album, funneling the band's aggression into the work, without negating or nullifying the emotion. I understand why it is not for a large portion of the population, but it's critical listening for modern metal. And honestly, even people who know nothing about Slayer know about Raining Blood and "SLAAAAAAYERRRRRR" jokes, so clearly there's been a huge impact. Outside of RIB's obvious power, Angel of Death, Jesus Saves, Piece by Piece, and Reborn are standouts. But it's worth listening to the whole thing. || Shoutout to Ms. Anker's 9th grade English class where I was allowed to play "Angel of Death" as a 'media piece' for my speech about torture...yeah, I was an edgelord, yes I am embarrassed hahahah.

One of the big 4, it's fucking SLAYYYYERRRR! Two of their most iconic songs are on this album, "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood". Fast, aggressive, angry, and shocking. The best kind of metal. \m/

Easiest 5 of my life. Best thrash there is, if you don't thrash then you won't like this album and that's fine so I expect average reviews to be lower. Will I listen to again: 100%

Åh fy fan vad fett

This album fucking slays (pun intended). One of my favorite thrash albums of all time. Great way to wake up in the morning on a day when you've been up since 4am.

Excellent record from the darkest of the Big 4.

Brutal and insane. 5 stars.

SLLLLAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYERRRRRRRRRRRRR

One of my favorites.

Probably the peak of metal music for me, doesn't really get much better. Album flies through at 200mph, insane riffs and solos. As soon as it's over I just want to listen to it all over again.

Holy shit the drummer

Holy shit. Today is the day I found out I love thrash metal and Slayer! This album is a verified banger from start to finish, But not for the faint of heart or easily offended. Music that challenges norms always deserves credit, especially the controversial stuff-and by golly gee wiz this deserves to be in the forefront.

SLAYER

This is a classic album, but probably not suitable for those who don't listen much to metal music. Nevertheless, this album should be known by everyone because it marks a generation and a way of making music.

FUCKIN’ SLAYER!!! this album, to many, is their masterpiece and considered one of the greatest metal albums of all time. tom araya with his barking vocals. guitarists jeff hanneman and kerry king with their sick riffs and alternating chaotic leads. and of course dave lombardo with his lightning fast drumming, you’d swear the dude is an octopus. this is the band’s classic lineup and the band is in top form with their trademark dark, angry energy. after all, what other band would put out a song titled “jesus saves” that mocks and questions christianity? my personal favourite slayer album is south of heaven, but you certainly can’t go wrong with either of these slabs of thrash excellence. highlights: “angel of death”, “alter of sacrifice”, “jesus saves”, “raining blood”.

awesome!

1986 was a gigantic year for the genre of Heavy Metal, in particular Thrash. This album came out along with Master Of Puppets by Metallica and Peace Sells by Megadeth, two albums which I’m pretty positive are also on the list. Context helps here because Prog was beginning to become the norm in the genre, as those two albums would certainly show. An increase in recording quality and production value came alongside a more adventurous songwriting process and more experimentation. …and then there was Slayer. Although I would personally say I love the two aforementioned classics, this contemporary album from Slayer marks a serious line in the sand where they declare they are sticking to their roots. Sure they spent a lot more on the production of this compared to their earlier releases, but the composition and lyrical content is very similar to the aggression which put all these Thrash bands on the map in the first place. Although big names of the same genre, Reign In Blood has more in common with classic hardcore punk albums than it does with Metallica’s classic of the same year. While Metallica and Megadeth would influence the progressive and experimental Metal movements which would soon follow, Slayer laid the groundwork for what would soon turn into Death Metal and Speed Metal, which admittedly has become more my speed over time. What I should also mention is I believe this is the second appearance in our project of what I’m sure will be several of Rick Rubin (who also worked on Cash’s American IV) as a producer. Rick is great because he knows nothing about writing or playing music, but gives his production advice on what would “sound cool”. Guess what? This album sounds so fucking cool. That brings me to talking about the individual performances, which are great. It’s loose and chaotic, and the production only adds to the impact. Drum hits have the impact of machine guns, ripping through the mix at over 200bpm. Guitar riffs that practically drip with grit and grime form the base for nearly incomprehensible guitar solos to descend from the heavens and commence their attack. Meanwhile, Tom Araya delivers polarizing lyrics with the tone of a reluctant messenger, only breaking from his typical range to deliver alarmingly convincing screams of despair (most notably on Angel Of Death and Postmortem). Look, altogether, if this isn’t a 5 star Metal record I don’t know what is. It’s a runaway train from start to finish with no way off. It’s an uncompromising show of energy and aggression. It’s amazing.

oh hell yeah!! 5 stars without even listening yet 😁 I don't know if I've ever listened to a whole Slayer album before. I'm pumped! My only qualm is that it's only 34 minutes long. Oh shit, Raining Blood is on this album! Fuck they're so good!

I honestly can't describe how much this album blew my mind when I first heard it. I thought Metallica was the peak of 1980s thrash metal, and to be fair they are... but my first experience of Slayer was something else. It made Master of Puppets sound like Rush. It gave me that "hory shet, now THIS is fucking cool!" feeling that is so fleetingly rare after about age 8. I've learned the whole thing on guitar over the years (except the solos, bc who the fuck learns a Slayer solo?) and it still fuckin thumps whenever I play it. Including today. 5/5.

Foundational. Fucking Slayer!

Out of the gate and never relenting, a brutal onslaught magnifying the worst of human suffering and depravity. A reminder that death is eminent. This set the framework for things to come and set the bar high with drums and guitars that thunder and scream like the marching and wailing of the Harbinger's Mares - Revelation 6: 1-8 Reign in Blood Rips

GREAT way to start my morning!

Somehow still melodic and musical while just going so hard

Classic!

Banger.

Any true metalhead has this album.

Man what an absolute shockwave of an album in the world of thrash. Raining Blood never ceases to give me chills.

Never gets old.

I couldn't listen to this everyday. But this is an example of genre perfection.

I feel I have to rate this album 5 stars. It is so monumental and has had such impact on metal and metalcore music. Personally, I'd probably give it 4 stars, just for my own enjoyment in 2024, as well as how often I'd ever return to it, but the extra star is definitely earned, as the album does still hold up in many ways, especially in how easily you can hear the impact on heavy music even today.

Brutal. Love it.

Exemplary work - thankfully not too long, but exactly what it needs to be and exactly what you'd expect.

Great album of all time

"Reign in Blood" is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. The album was produced by Rick Rubin and Slayer and was a step up production wise from their previous two albums. The music straddles between thrash metal and hardcore punk and the album is considered a cornerstone in that thrash metal genre. The lyrics deal with death, religion, insanity and human experiments. Human experiments you say? Yeah, there was quite a bit of controversy with the release of the record based on the lyrics of the first song "Angel of Death" and its subject Nazi physician Joseph Mengele and the human experiments he did in the Auschwitz concentration camps. The band denied being Nazi sympathesizers but it followed the band throughout their career. This album received much critical acclaim and brought Slayer into the metal mainstream. A guitar assault, ridiculously fast drums, a guttural scream and we're off with the aforementioned "Angel of Death." The subject was already discussed and was told through the viewpoint of Mengele. The song has been used in various movies, tv shows and video games. The metal onslaught continues in "Piece by Piece." We're into blood, gore and cannibalism now. "Jesus Saves" actually starts out with a slower heavy metal guitar and beat. No worries, we're quickly into thrash. The foolishness of relying on religion to save you. Slower drums and a grinding guitar open "Criminally Insane." Like before we're quickly into thrash. A mind-blowing guitar solo. Drummer Dave Lombardo changing his beats throughout. Murderers taking lives and not caring cause they are....!!! And what better way to end an album then with "Raining Blood." Rain, guitar feedback, drum knocks and then into those classic dual guitar chords and the thrash. The song slows in spots and the speeds up. A banished soul from heaven awakens in purgatory and, well, he declares his plan for heaven at the end with a scream of "I shall reign in blood!!!" Musical chaos. Thunder. Silence. These songs are short and intense. Thr band gets right to the point. The album itself is short at 28 minutes. I think some heavy metal (as well as other genres) albums are way too long and bloated. Not here. The guitar and drumming are next level. The lyrics? Yeah, the music fits. A rock and metal classic.

As a dyed-in-the-wool heavy metal maniac I'm not giving this any less than five well-deserved stars. This album absolutely smokes. Lots of bands tried to sound like Slayer. Few bands actually sound like Slayer. 'Angel of Death' and 'Raining Blood' are all-timers in the metal pantheon.

This is what I wanted Master of Puppets to sound like. I'm know that's legitimate heresy to say, but it's true.

1. Pioneering Speed and Aggression: "Reign in Blood" is often cited as a pioneering album in the subgenre of thrash metal. It's known for its relentless speed and aggression, with most songs clocking in at under three minutes. The opening track, "Angel of Death," immediately sets the tone with its lightning-fast guitar riffs and frenetic drumming. 2. Guitar Wizardry: The guitar work on this album, courtesy of Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, is nothing short of spectacular. Their razor-sharp, palm-muted riffs and blazing guitar solos became a blueprint for countless metal bands that followed. The precision and intensity of their playing are particularly evident in tracks like "Raining Blood" and "Postmortem." 3. Tom Araya's Menacing Vocals: Tom Araya's vocals are a key element of Slayer's signature sound. His aggressive and menacing delivery adds to the overall intensity of the album. His lyrical themes often delve into dark and controversial subjects, such as war, death, and the macabre. 4. Impact on the Metal Genre: "Reign in Blood" had a profound influence on the metal genre. Its speed, technicality, and lyrical themes helped shape the thrash and death metal subgenres. Many consider it a cornerstone of extreme metal, and its impact can be heard in the work of bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and countless others. 5. Controversial Artwork and Lyrics: The album's original cover art and some of its lyrics generated controversy due to their graphic and controversial nature. "Angel of Death," in particular, faced criticism for its lyrical content inspired by Nazi physician Josef Mengele. Slayer has defended their use of such themes as a form of artistic expression and provocation. 6. Timeless and Enduring: "Reign in Blood" remains as powerful and relevant today as it was upon its release. Its songs are staples in Slayer's live performances, and the album is frequently cited in discussions of the greatest metal albums of all time. In summary, "Reign in Blood" by Slayer is a landmark album in the world of heavy metal. It's celebrated for its sheer intensity, speed, and influence on the genre. While its controversial themes and graphic imagery have sparked debate, they are integral to the album's identity. For metal enthusiasts, it's a must-listen, and its legacy in the world of music is undeniable.

This still effing slaps.

Fun album. The sound seems straightforward on the surface, but it is actually very subtle because it is always different, so I was not bored. The lyrics are so unapologetic they become kind of relaxing.

This is objectively the best Slayer album. Every song is incredible, and somehow catchy. Everyone after them were just try-hard wannabes.

I own every Slayer album and seen them 8 times live, need I say more

A bit of nostalgia for this one. I know the lyrics are cringy (especially since you can understand them unlike later death metal lyrics) and there are times such as tracks 2-4 where the music blends together and lacks a little variety. But the riffs and atmosphere are there, it’s relentless, and doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. You can clearly see the major influence this had on early death metal. My favorite part is the Postmortem/Raining Blood finale which is one of my favorite metal songs of all time, and Criminally Insane is underrated. Overall I can’t help but give this 5.

Pretty awesome. How to not enjoy slayer ? More double kick drum please. Lyrics are ridiculous in the best way.

Очень классический треш метал, но опять же тогда это звучало очень свежо и необычно. Алкоальбом: слэмиться на фесте в кожанках и пить статут

One of the great metal albums

Slayeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrr! Kwaliteit herrie en zieke invloed op de metal wereld

This album is a great example of thrash metal. There are several things I especially would like to mention. The main one is the tempo of the tracks, it’s incredibly speed. The vocals of Tom Araya are really hard to comprehend. At the same time the tracks themselves are really short, often less than 3 minutes (and the album is about 32 minutes) but nevertheless, they often include 1-2 guitar solos. And what is more, the drumming of Dave Lombardo is incredibly fast too, his fills and playing 16 notes on ride in an insane tempo are really memorable (as well as intro and outro to Epidemic). My favourite tracks so far are Raining Blood, Epidemic and Jesus Saves.

That metal...yeah

LP

10 из 10

love it

LP

Great album, a metal essential

Thrash me. This is a great album! The recording is clean, the guitars are shreddy, Tom Araya sounds like a heavy metal priest.

This album fucks so heavy, the switch ups are so gruelly and reek of pure violence, fills me with primordial rage like no other record

For me the best Slayer album