Reign In Blood

Honestly more of a 4 but fuck it 5 to offset all those who gave it a 1 because "iT's ToO sCaRy FoR mE"

This is just so silly. How did it ever become a thing? And how/why did it get on this list?! It sounds like a spoof of something (not sure what, though), or just some weird (and very niche) kind of performance art, but not like something that even remotely deserves to be taken seriously (or is even remotely appealing) as music. 1 star! Best thing about it is that it's fairly short (although it sure didn't seem short, when I was forcing myself to listen to it). But, still, this was a huge waste of my time. I might have liked it better without the singing. And better still if the drums were omitted, as well. And best of all if . . . .

Listened to it. Listened to some more Slayer then listened to the album again. Great for putting up a shed.

THERE IS NO SAVING THIS ALBUM! I want an album that won't make me throw up or bang my head against a wall. For the love of God where is Elton John, where is Billy Joel, where is Paul Simon, where is Bruce Springsteen?

I’ve never listened to a metal album before and I can’t say I’ve been convinced to listen to more of them. None of this is serious, right? I didn’t hate this like I thought I might, it was fine, but the whole sound is just not for me. Whoooo, the devil, oh no, it’s all very scary and edgy, not satan. I could maybe stretch to 3/5 but I was getting a bit impatient for it to finish towards the end. Music made for other people.

10/10 banger

Not my type of metal, but well played

I blinked and the album was over. I appreciate how brief this genre tends to be, really compact and hard-hitting, but I don't get much out of it personally.

28 minutes and 55 seconds of blood death and holicaust deviltalk delivered in exactly 10-tracks. Yes this is a substantive review. When they rule, the 80’s really rule.

While more designed as a soundtrack for flipping over couches, this is my taking care of business at work album. If I need to get into the zone to write my little reports, headphones go on, do not disturb is activated, and this is played LOUD.

:)

1 out of 10. Thrash metal is my least favourite genre. I just can't resonate with it. To me the whole album just sounds like 1 very large very angry track.

Not for me. I particularly didn't like the song about Mengele. Still, technically proficient and I need to be able to differentiate this music from things like Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock.

6/10

I’m going to be the outlier here. This album very good. I can obviously see why people would hate this. I think that’s sort of the point. This is rock and roll that your parents will hate. The first track is super controversial but achieves its own end of being truly dark. The musicianship is great. Watching a live clip you can see the skill and dexterity it takes to pull this off. This is not Def Leppard - teenybopper pseudo metal. This is cutting edge thrash metal and you can hear its influence in a lot of what comes later - including a lot of grunge. It is hard to listen to but also fascinating. The energy is completely off the charts. I want to grade it high for what it is accomplishing but low for “things I want to listen to” so splitting the difference.

Not for me. Decidedly.

I tried. Not very hard, but I did try. Just so awful though.

mince

Classic! 🤘

Love the music but can't deal with the singing voice Still a stone cold classic though

Have listened to this album many a time. Absolutely brilliant and terrified me the first time I heard it!

At least it wasn’t boring

That's a huge album that you have to strap yourself into. Thrash not my biggest favourite of genres. High 2s.

I really wanted to like this, but Thrash Metal has never really done anything for me. I found tracks like 'Angel Of Death' and 'Raining Blood' to interest me, but much of the other tracks on the album were too short to leave a real lasting impression. The drumming was fantastic, and so was the guitar, but its length, mixed with my distaste for Thrash and Death Metal made this an interesting listen, but sadly it just didn't work for me.

Is this monstrously influential and important on not just music but culture as a whole? Yes. Do I think this is any good? No. Maybe if I was 12, or if I was 52 and thinking back to listening to this when I was 12. It's just so repetitive.

Les "angel of death" auront 1 etoile

Not for me 1/5

Not even Jesus could save me from this record. Man, I cannot stand thrash. That’s one sub genre I just don’t think I’ll ever fall in line with. I’m not as familiar with the roots of this genre, but it’s just way too fast and abrasive for me. It takes parts of punk and slops all over it. Metal heads scare me, just as these songs do. What the fuck is bro even singing about?

Okay I actually think this is quite interesting. Yes this has no real substance in terms of lyrics but the ideas and the execution are so tight that I know that this is powerful for people. Thrash music has its place in Office Buildings and Construction sites forever. Yet for me I don't care for that side of life. I enjoy not having to scream like this and enjoy life at a normal volume but then again I listen to shoegaze so maybe this needs more emotional weight. Feels vapid and yet I loved it its like popcorn. Boring yet enjoyable. It also is only 29 minutes this is bite sized and saves it from a artitsic slog. If you are curious its a commute sized album haha

Metall that is not for recycling but eternal burn in fire.

Only made it five minutes.

It is super hard to objectively rate albums that I would never choose to listen to. Death Metal is a genre that I really can't tolerate - it just sounds like noise (and torture) to me. But I suppose I can get behind the talent and what it takes to put together music that is that frenetic and fast paced. (3)

2/5

Fuck yeah, let's go tip something over!!! DUN DUN DUNNN .... DUN DUN DUNNN

Hoy toca éste álbum poderosísimo. El más conocido y el que más he escuchado de Slayer: crudo, rápido, agresivo. Ideal para hacer catarsis, para mandar todo a la mierda, para entrenar, quizás. Muchas gracias y hasta mañana: la nota, obviamente, es de cinco estrellas.

I am very much conflicted when it comes to this album. On the one hand, the energy contained within definitely overflew into me, making for a great and powerful listening experience. On the other hand, some of the songs feel not as polished as they could have been, yet considering how old the album is, it is undoubtedly a progenitor of the genre. And while the texts where fun they also feel a bit mono-thematic, which fits the style but doesn't invite you to dwell on them for too long. Best songs are Epidemic and Postmortem. 7/10, a solid foundation.

Classic thrash album. Probably my least favourite of the big 4 bands. But still a belter of an album. And massively iconic and influential.

god i fucking hate heavy metal

Monumentally influential. One of the springs from which extreme metal spawned. You cannot deny the impact it had for decades. But were better albums created in its wake? Absolutely. My hangup with Slayer remains their edginess. Does it get edged out by their performances? I'm not so sure. Hanneman's riffs outclass the messy solos (Kerry King never really does it for me). Lombardo is great on drums. Araya's vocals aren't really impressive outside of his screams.

Not my typical cup of tea however I was into it, definitely a different cup way to start my morning with a satanic panic

c’est non

I really wanted to like this, and maybe on a different day I would.

I'm sure for metal heads this is a great album. I however don't care for it.

The music is fun thrash metal. The lyrics are deliberately provocative and for that rebellious metal teenager.

Appreciate this - but I’m possibly too old for thrash metal now. High 2

Not for me.

I love the intensity and freneticism Slayer bring to their performance. The full weight of the band is ploughed into every song - its full on. The closer you listen the more eccentric it all sounds. Beat breaks, unusual drum fills, out on a limb guitar playing. They truly earn the name Slayer.

Slayer get a high 3 from me, it grew on me over its short runtime w an especially good middle section of rhythm switches and riffs

Didn't mind this actually. Good for what it was.

FUCK YEAH!!!!!! 4/5

Awesome album, but definitely an acquired taste, ai don’t know anything by them except this album. Go into it knowing it is heavy and abrasive, but I heard it when I was a teen for the first time and couldn’t get enough of it. Very talented instrumentalists for sure, as well as writers.

Two good songs (first and last) the rest is pretty unlistenable.

Alright I’ve now gotten the Big Four of thrash. My take: Megadeth >> Slayer = Anthrax >> Metallica. This was one note but fun like the Anthrax album. Not as dumb/silly as Metallica (getting close tho) but also not as righteously prodigious as Megadeth.

So angry

Of the “Big Four” of thrash metal, Slayer is probably the most iconic, but at the same time also the least talented band. While Dave Mustaine and his various sidekicks (including Marty Friedman), Scott Ian, and - to a lesser extent - Kirk Hammett display the highest level of virtuosity, Jeff Hannemann and, in particular, Kerry King are all about sheer chaos and raw power. The latter once described his soloing approach as “torturing the instruments,” and that’s exactly what it sounds like. What I was less aware of was that Tom Araya did something very similar to his voice on “Reign In Blood”: those high-pitched screams don’t sound healthy at all. In summary, this album has become iconic due to its sheer brutality. That deserves respect, but for me, it doesn’t warrant a perfect score.

The music gets repetitive and the lyrics are just kinda dumb. I can see how this might appeal to a 14 year old but there’s really not much here.

This may be the tightest I've ever heard a classic thrash metal band. Well done, Rick Rubin.

Of the “big four” 1980’s thrash bands, they are the least enjoyable: 1. Metallica 2. Megadeth 3. Anthrax 4. Slayer

My preference is certainly for somewhat more melodic stuff, but there's a lot to like here. Some of the vocals are kind of just the singer angrily speaking words related to the theme of the song with no sense of rhythm and falling behind the tempo.

repetitive

Not today satan

holy shit ican tell you for a FACT that the drummer doesnt wear deo this sound like the second day of my fucking period if i dont take advil

my ears are very untrained

This one is a classic. Lyrics can be cheap shock value in the most basic way and the music can sometimes be a little too samey throughout, but otherwise this bangs hard.

Not my thing, but well recorded

Cool metal bits. Creepy lyrics

Loud guitar hero metalcore. Not bad tho.

Fast as hell. Amazing tight playing. The shouting is a lot but the riffs are great.

Peak thrash metal album. Raining blood has to be one of the greatest metal songs of all time. Really good workout album, definitely gets the blood pumping.

2.5

2 stars Ive heard this album once before and never went back to it. Metal as a genre straddles the line between awesome and corny by design. Singing about death and the devil can be cool but easily flips to lame if it's done wrong. Metal is over the top, but you there is still a limit where a band shouldn't go, lest they sound like corny hacks. Slayer doesn't know the meaning of the word. Could be possible that because I didn't grow up during the Satanic Panic that I don't get shocked by someone singing about Satan, thus negating the album coming off as transgressive but more fake-edgy. Sure, the music is good if you like fast crunchy riffs and whatnot. But good lord feels free to change it up once in a while, fellas. Every song sounds like it could be part of the next one with a few exceptions. Maybe I'm just not as much of a metal guy but man this album gets old fast. Making their best song the last song was a wise decision. Angel of Death: God damn that's fast. Tom's voice is particularly terrible on this one. But that double bass at the end. Whew. Piece By Piece: This one suits Tom's voice better. This one bangs. Necrophobic: Oh another fast one-wait, there's a breakdown, tight. Oh, it's over, back to fast strumming. Im sorry the high pitch "Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh" is just so hacky, even by metal standards. Altar of Sacrifice: Real question, if there's no Satanic panic, are the title and subject matter the same? Like it comes off as "hey! I'm shocking you! You're so shocked! I'm so shocking!" The music is good though. This one also bangs Jesus Saves: Yea it's pretty great metal. But feel free to be a little dynamic in your sonic range guys Criminally Insane-Structure is a little different here. Its fine. Tom's voice again is the downfall of this song Reborn-Did this one have to be done in one take or something? Epidemic-oh did this song pass? sorry i thought it was still the previous song. Wikipedia said Rick Ruben produced this album to help their "sound evolve". Woof. What was it before? Postmortem-yeah, its fine Raining Blood-So this is their biggest song i believe and it makes sense. It's a banger for sure. Also, it's a welcomed change from the rest of the album. Has a fun intro, a sick riff, a bit of a grove, AND still has the signature thrash metal speed and sound.

I thought this would drown out a crying baby on the plane. It did.

Oh no blood! but drums go crash crash boom crash

Nope

this is the first metal album on this list that actually feels metal to me. like some real demonic shit. not super into satanism or nothin but its an interesting change of pace. im open minded this is dope.

Je vais acheter un T-shirt de Slayer à Steph. Elle m'a dit qu'elle allait écouter du Slayer toute la journée de sa fête dimanche.

Thrash c'est hit or miss avec moi, ça dépend de mon mood j'ai l'impression... Ça m'a quand même mené loin dans la discographie de Rick Rubin, comme c'était le 2e en 3 jours. Quelle oeuvre intéressante, de Public Enemy à Slayer, en passant par Johnny Cash, RHCP, Lady Gaga et Kanye West (et j'en omets plein). En tout cas!

Un autre album de thrash qui confirme que ce n'est pas pour moi, ce style. J'ai quand même headbang un peu sur Raining Blood alors je vais leur donner ça. Je pense avoir mieux aimé que Megadeth!

L'apogée de ce que ce doit être. Parfait.

C'est raw. Ça buche pas possible sans artifices. J'sais pas si c'est bon par exemple. 3.49 étoiles

🫶🏻🫶🏻

wow death metal that sounds like it was made today. also, rick rubin produced this? apparently he originally worked with beastie boys so he brought a hiphop perspective, removing the reverb and cutting runtime.

There are some tunes in there but most are ruined half way through when they revert to Cacophony Mode where they all play all the notes all the time and the drummer goes apeshit trying to hit as many drums as fast as possible.

Not bad for thrash metal

No es mi rollo para nada, pero veo la capacidad

Contains the classic "Raining Blood" from "Guitar Hero III". A little too heavy to my taste.

I wish I was more in the mood for this but it rips

Painful but eye opening

Unfortunately, I can tolerate this music even less today than I could back in my youth. This thrash metal stuff is just mindless, rapid-fire guitar playing accompanied by screaming vocals and highly questionable lyrics.

OK, Reign in Blood is the best thrash metal album I’ve heard to date, but that doesn’t make it good or enjoyable. Fortunately, it’s only a half hour long. Unfortunately, it’s thrash metal. (2.499*s) It’s not bad, it’s just not for me.

Sounds a lot like the other 80s metal we got from the list thus far. Not as good as Metallica or Megadeth though. For 30 mins it's not too annoying but is very similar throughout. "Raining Blood" is ahead of the pack as top track. Drummer's legs burning on that double bass. I'll take any thrash metal over country even if it's almost as comical at times. I just don't get the obsession with hell and death but I guess you can't scream about nice things cause that would be lame. 2.13 deathstars.

I'm aware there is an audience for thrash metal but it's always been somewhat confusing to me. In small doses I get an inkling of what it is that brings someone to the music, but I really can't listen to anything like this for any extended time. I can understand an occasional song here and there to showcase the speed of the musicians or to get a chuckle out of the common death metal tropes in all the lyrics. After that I have to move on. Slayer's Reign In Blood is fine I guess but I can't tell what makes it stand out from anything else in the genre. Maybe I'm completely ignorant to it but it sounds like the same tricks across the board. The myriad of over the top death metal tropes in all the lyrics get laughable as they are constantly singing about the most ridiculous angsty goth-teen topics at every turn. After a couple songs everything starts to sound the same to me. I'm not even sure how they play something like this live where it just seems like the band would be racing to get through it while the vocalist rips out lyrics too fast to follow or understand most of the time. If you need an adrenaline boost or something to pull you out of the depths for a couple minutes, sure I guess throw on a Slayer song to amp you up. From there I gotta move on but evidently it works for other people. Reign In Blood wasn't the worst but I just can't engage beyond the surface level for any of it. Even at a pretty modest 28 minute length I was ready for it to end and hoping to get back to something else. People have different tastes which is entirely OK. 1.37 stars

Uhh a bit too much for me

There are two stories about this album, one about clarifying things and one about obscuring them. The former story is contained in how great it sounds, a function of Rick Rubin coming to thrash with fresh ears and suggesting that people might like to actually be able to tell what these world-class musicians are doing on their instruments. The result was the dry, reverb-less sound that became the template for not just thrash but a lot of metal production from this era. Call Rubin a cult of personality all you want but stuff like this is why the cult exists. The latter story - about the words Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King are putting in Tom Araya's mouth to sing here - is thornier, and not just because of how downright ugly a lot of it is. On a literal level, Slayer's anti-Christianity isn't any more theologically coherent than the Christianity they purport to be critiquing - God's dead except He's not, witch hunts are bullshit but the witch actually is going to bring vengeance on her tormentors (which implies both an afterlife and the sort of moral weighing the boys disparage elsewhere). So the point of all of it has to be emotional rather than literal - to simply express a sort of inchoate rage at the injustice of the straight world. Same with the Mengele shit - *how could a God permit this?* I don't need this and don't connect with it at all but I can respect that some people do. But for me the pleasure of this is in the music almost exclusively. Your mileage may vary greatly, as always.

It's Slayer

Good but a bit too heavy for Jet lag

Pretty cool from front to back. I think it’s a bit much personally, but I can definitely appreciate the musical talent on display with how fast and to the point it is. The lyrics paint these gruesome or evil vignettes that do add to the overall quality of the album. It’s short and definitely not sweet, and I would like to listen to more of their stuff.

I love this album. No wasted songs on it. Phenomenal songwriting and closes with an amazing track that when seen live is a visual delight.

Altar of Sacrifice Jesus Saves Criminally Insane Raining Blood

Criminally Insane Postmortem