Slayer Album: “Hell Awaits”

Slayer's third album (their second full length) isn't their best effort, but, like "Reign In Blood" (this album's successor and Slayer's breakthrough), "Hell Awaits" does showcase the band in fine form. The rather shoddy production and aged sound quality that their debut, "Show No Mercy," had is still apparent, and Tom Araya's vocals are sometimes kind of annoying. But this album proves that nobody can match the sheer sonic ferocity and lightning fast velocity of Slayer. Every song is full of amazingly fast riffs and scorching solos, beeping bass notes, and thumping drums. The beginning of the album's first track, the title track, is the only slow moment on the whole record (and it eventually hits high gear at about three minutes in). Tracks three, four, and five ("At Dawn They Sleep," "Praise of Death," and "Necrophiliac") have great, ultra-fast guitar shredding including elongated solos and beeping bass lines. "Kill Again" is fueled by blindingly fast double bass work, four searing guitar solos, and some primal screams by Tom. Likewise, track six, "Crypts of Eternity," has careening guitar work and a weird, long, falsetto yell. The album ends with "Hardening of the Arteries," which is a catchy, rhythmic chugger. "Hell Awaits" should have been this band's breakthrough album. "Reign In Blood" is definitely still my favorite Slayer album, but it isn't their only five-star release. If you like great thrash, "Hell Awaits" awaits!

It definitely comes down to this one and Reign in Blood, and it's a tough decision. Agreed, Reign in Blood has the sound quality hands down, and it is THE classic Slayer album, but sometimes I have to go with Hell Awaits. Muddy recording cannot kill these demons. The title track is one of the most powerful moments in headbanger history. It is the soundtrack to the opening of the mouth of Hell. The imaginative instrumentation of At Dawn They Sleep maunders and mauls with the dementia of a rabid horde of bloodthirsty ghouls. All of the players are in top form.

Contrary to what many say, this music is not satanic. The lyrics are about demons and hell and butcherous hellspawn, but they are not satan worship. Kerry King likened Slayer's lyrics to horror stories.

One of the most amazing albums from one of the most influential artists in metal.

Faint feedback fading in, a multitude of demonic voices chanting in tongues, the feedback becomes clearer, wails of tormented lost souls almost udetectable in the background, louder, it grows, the sense of doom impending looms larger, a throbbing bass line becomes evident first subconsciously then audibly, a gutteral voice completely indecipherable growls. The feedback stops, a thumping, driving drum beat and and razor sharp guitars in it's place, rumbling kick drums join, the intensity builds, the riffs build, layer upon relentless unstoppable layer. Suddenly, a single guitar riffs furiously, followed moments later by the rest of the band keeping perfect pace, then barked vocals, clear, but too fast to comprehend, the gutteral voice returns "HELL AWAITS". Screaming, wailing frenetic paced solo, single guitar again, back to the full band, once again the rhythm section drops out just leaving the guitars, another tremolo abusing solo, then suddenly it's all over with a no nonsense finish.

The listener is left asking "what just happened?"

Hell happened.

The song just described, "Hell Awaits" is one of the most distinctive, intense opening tracks to an album ever (Slayer managed to top it with "Angel of Death" on Reign in Blood, but that's a different story). Many bands have produced tracks with dynamics and a sound like this since. None, however, did it in 1985.

Yes, Satan's favourite sons were back with a vengeance. The title track's ode to damnation was quickly followed by six more pummeling tracks dedicated to all things ungodly- mass murder, vampirism, and necrophilia all get a mention, and the songs just that shade more disturbing because they are first person descriptions.

While Metallica were chanting "DIE DIE DIE" on "Creeping Death", Slayer upped the ante, with a chorus of "KILL KILL KILL" on "At Dawn They Sleep". The track is also noable for the first appearance of Dave Lombardo's now legendary double kick drum solo.

And on it goes.

From the frenetic rifferama of "Praise of Death", the percussive cascade of "Necrophiliac", there's no let up on this album. As "Hardening of the Arteries" fades into nothingness, you're left with a feeling of relief the sonic barrage is over, but also craving more, as your body struggles to cope with an adrenaline induced high.

In hindsight, all the ingredients for the definitive Reign In Blood were present on Hell Awaits. It just took Slayer a little more time to perfect the recipe, cutting away the excess, expanding the essential, and building intensity.

Why does this thrash masterpiece has only a 4 atar average over 100+ reviews while that damn POS from Coldg@y 'Parachutes' has a 4.5 over 600+ reviews?? This is despite a poor production (that if at all, barely holds back this from being as great as it should be) it is pure brilliance. And a must have for any thrash fans.

This is Slayer's sophomore release, it got out in 1985. It's not Slayer's very best but it's still excellent. Reign in Blood is their absolute best album, South of Heaven is also awesome, this comes after those 2 as their 3rd best album. 'Seasons' does have some classics like 'Dead Skin Mask' and the title track, but other than that it just has too many fillers. Anyway it is a great improvement from Show No Mercy. Tom Araya's vocals here are harsher than ever. Even his basslines are audible here at times. It has only 7 tracks but it clocks at 34 mins (opposed to RIB, which has 10 songs but it cocks at 28 mins). I heard some people who said it's a concept album, but id it is, it's a weak one (for a great concept album go for Queensryche's Mindcrime). It starts off with the best title track Slayer has ever done and the best song on the album. It starts with a quiet intro, and then it goes into some nice guitar melodies and then becomes pure thrash and speed. Also the growl in the chorus "HELL AWAIIIITS" is awesome. 'Kill Again' is probably my least favorite song here but it's still pretty damn good. 'At Dawn They Sleep' is the 2nd best song here, just listen to the drum outro. 'Praise of Death', 'Necrophiliac' are awesome also. 'Crypts of Eternity' is the longest song on the album, also the longest in the band's whole career along with SITA (title track). 'Hardening of the Arteries' is a very good closer also.

Ratings:

Hell Awaits: 12/10

Kill Again: 7/10

At Dawn They Sleep: 11/10

Praise of Death: 10/10

Necrophiliac: 10/10

Crypts of Eternity: 10/10

Hardening of the Arteries: 9/10

All in all, this proves again why Slayer is the best metal band in the US (and they're still today, 'Christ Illusion' gets out in August, hope it will just be as good), and is recommended for thrash/death fans. Other recommendations would be any other Slayer album, Metallica's Master of Puppets, Iced Earth's Burnt Offerings, Sepultura's Arise and Dark Angel's Darkness Descends.

PS awesome album cover, also.

I can not believe that it deserves so few stars here. I know that a lot of people is sure, that "Reign in blood" is Slayer's best album. True, it is perfect, but "Hell awaits" is more than perfect, more than the landmark release, this is the album of the decade! I don't exaggerate, "Hell awaits" speaks, oh, God, it sounds and plays itself. And it truly deserves to be appreciated as one of the best metal albums ever released. Starting with awesome hell's noises of title song, the whole disc contains an incredible atmosphere. Hell awaits, Kill again, At Dawn they sleep, Praise of death, Necrophiliac, Crypts of eternity, Hardening of the arteries are great songs and together they deliver a finished masterpiece. I do not even want to describe each song, every catchy and beautiful riff, solos that Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King give all the time, or Tom Araya pretty nice singing or Dave Lombardo handy drumming, you have to listen to it yourself. I can only guarantee that if you love an intelligent heavy music, you will love this one too much. This is Slayer at its finest moment!