Undoubtedly one of their best albums, but i feel that its just so underrated, yet it seems to be slayer's most progressive album (three songs are over 6 minutes long), and for that reason, I regard it better than their debut. Though Hell awaits is rated lower than show no mercy:P

I'd say this was still the pinnacle of Slayer. Mid-80's metal at its most progressive, hellish (along with Seven Churches), and perfect. This album is a sinful delight from beginning to end.

Slayer's best album hands down. Underrated compared to the later albums, that's for sure.

Written by X-Ray Rod on 21.04.2012 at 12:31

Slayer's best album hands down. Underrated compared to the later albums, that's for sure.

Couldn't agree more. It is a hideously underrated album, I think mainly because of the album which followed it. Though in my opinion, "Hell Awaits" is better than RIB...

A weird but accurate way of describing this album, is it's a thrash album with the atmosphere of a good black metal album.

Written by Angelic Storm on 21.04.2012 at 16:49
A weird but accurate way of describing this album, is it's a thrash album with the atmosphere of a good black metal album.

Easily their best in my opinion. In fact this was the exact album I had in mind when comparing Enthral's latest to early Slayer.

This record is PURE evil and subsequently Slayer's best album. 'At Dawn They Sleep' - A technical monster of a song that has some of the best songwriting of any metal band in any era.

A great album, but i have one problem with this album. The album could be a bit longer then i would maybe rate it with a 10

Written by Guest on 09.11.2012 at 22:50

A great album, but i have one problem with it. The album could be a bit longer then i would maybe rate it with a 10

I'm not a big Slayer fan, but if I was threatened at gunpoint to choose my favorite album by them, it would probably be this one. I remember that initial curiosity of listening to the title track for the first time, and it was a really exciting feeling I had when I was younger, pretty much like my life was about to change upon listening to it (which it essentially did). The album definitely paved the way for me to get into even more extreme metal as a result, so I give the band much respect for that.

This is truly the ultimate slayer album! It has everything that I want from not just a Slayer album, but from 80's metal in general!!!! When it comes to 80's metal I am after raw, fast, and evil; aka. Hell Awaits.

I greatly respect the influence this had on the overall course of extreme metal; when I listen to this I hear an early thrash album, a hint of a death metal album, and a kick ass first wave black metal album (Venom on steroids and crack).

KILLL AGAIN. that part scares me to shit.

Written by Maco on 07.05.2013 at 01:00

KILLL AGAIN. that part scares me to shit.

First time I heard it, I damn near jumped out of my skin.

Probably the evilest thrash metal album I have ever had the pleasure of hearing.

I thinks this is their best album too.

For me, really their best album, even better than Reign In Blood! The atmosphere is incredible. At Dawn They Sleep is my favorite track.

It was a lot different from SNM and, somehow, it's the definite Slayer album. It marks going for the Speed genre to ultimate Thrash. It's evil in every way. masterpiece

This album is now featured on bandcamp.

Thank god metal evolution happened and more bands came and new genres what is nu and somne crap came out later, otherwise metal would be boring
super overrated band, I did not hear anything here

If you guys enjoy the sound and the atmosphere of Hell Awaits, you should also try this album:

Oh fuck this. Come on, it's been 32 years. How is it possible that this remains the most evil thrash metal album of them all?

Masterpiece!

Damn.. the shitty production takes a lot from this album. With better production this could have been arguably better than Reign in Blood.

Good album, but how anyone can consider this better than the amazing Reign In Blood is beyond me. I guess it's a heart attack vs handjob situation - different strokes for different folks.

Written by Metren on 28.06.2019 at 13:25

Good album, but how anyone can consider this better than the amazing Reign In Blood is beyond me. I guess it's a heart attack vs handjob situation - different strokes for different folks.

Yeah, I am with you here. While I love this album -- as I love all their albums up to and including Seasons -- I also think this is far from their best (Seasons for me).
That said, the title track here and At dawn they sleep are all-time Thrash classics.

Superior to everything else they did before and after. Easily.

Hell Awaits is easily their best. RiB was brutal but missed the variATION TO BECOME A TRULY AWESOME ALBUM and Seasons is clearly their sell out wannabe black album.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 29.06.2019 at 07:00

Seasons is clearly their sell out wannabe black album.

This is quite funny

Written by Maco on 24.06.2018 at 21:47
Oh fuck this. Come on, it's been 32 years. How is it possible that this remains the most evil thrash metal album of them all?

Just passing by because I finally got a physical copy of this. Re-read some of my old comments and figured out I agree with this statement still. Fucking evil.
And this is still their best. I can imagine a large portion of the more "evil and brutal" black bands from Latin America finding this album their best and taking a chunk of inspiration.

"No apparent motive
JUST KILL AND KILL AGAIN!!!
Survive my brutal thrashing
I'll hunt you till the end"

Damn, that part.

Written by Maco on 05.11.2014 at 06:07

Probably the evilest thrash metal album I have ever had the pleasure of hearing.

What about Pleasure to Kill?

Written by F3ynman2000 on 19.08.2021 at 05:02

What about Pleasure to Kill?

Naaaa this one is more evil.

Written by Maco on 19.08.2021 at 05:28

Written by F3ynman2000 on 19.08.2021 at 05:02

What about Pleasure to Kill?

Naaaa this one is more evil.

I think Slayer had the most evil lyrics in Thrash, and proberbly the most evil in metal until Death came along.