Hell Awaits Review
| Band | |
|---|---|
| Album |  Hell Awaits |
| Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
| Released | March 1985 |
| Genres | Thrash Metal |
| Labels | Metal Blade Records |
| Length | 37:14 |
| Ranked | #1 for 1985 , #58 all-time |
Album rating : 91.6 / 100
Votes : 101 (8 reviews)
Votes : 101 (8 reviews)
January 5, 2020
When Slayer’s debut album rose from Hell in 1983, there was really nothing like it, and it sat comfortably atop the heaviest, fastest, most evil records in the world. Times had changed, and for metal, that meant pushing boundaries. Many bands heard Slayer and those who didn’t try to do exactly what they did, tried to up the ante.
So when Slayer went to record their sophomore album, they didn’t create Show No Mercy vol. 2. They had been listening to Mercyful Fate, and were inspired to create more complex song structures, longer and more varied compositions. However, they would sacrifice none of their brutality in doing this. The complex song structures allowed them to capitalize on their ability to create a truly evil, infernal mood; this is captured best on the opener “Hell Awaits,” with its backwards chanting and plentiful mid-tempo sections between the assaults of speed. Dave employs double bass drumming on every track, rather than occasional bursts. Tom’s bark, while definitely solid on the debut, was perfected here. He rattled off vicious lines at a speed unheard of, and despite pushing his vocal chords to their aggressive limits, remained intelligible the whole time. For me, this is the Slayer album that actually took the longest to love, but that’s a testament to the depth and timelessness of the album itself.
Slayer didn’t exactly invent a new genre with this album, but despite the Thrash label, it was more important to the development of Death Metal than anything. Slayer abandoned most of their punk roots here (Though they’d bring them back for the next album) and the sound is unmistakably darker. Possessed’s Seven Churches is awarded the title of first Death Metal album, but it’s a short step from Hell Awaits, and had death growls been employed here, the music would sound right at home on a pure Death Metal record.
So when Slayer went to record their sophomore album, they didn’t create Show No Mercy vol. 2. They had been listening to Mercyful Fate, and were inspired to create more complex song structures, longer and more varied compositions. However, they would sacrifice none of their brutality in doing this. The complex song structures allowed them to capitalize on their ability to create a truly evil, infernal mood; this is captured best on the opener “Hell Awaits,” with its backwards chanting and plentiful mid-tempo sections between the assaults of speed. Dave employs double bass drumming on every track, rather than occasional bursts. Tom’s bark, while definitely solid on the debut, was perfected here. He rattled off vicious lines at a speed unheard of, and despite pushing his vocal chords to their aggressive limits, remained intelligible the whole time. For me, this is the Slayer album that actually took the longest to love, but that’s a testament to the depth and timelessness of the album itself.
Slayer didn’t exactly invent a new genre with this album, but despite the Thrash label, it was more important to the development of Death Metal than anything. Slayer abandoned most of their punk roots here (Though they’d bring them back for the next album) and the sound is unmistakably darker. Possessed’s Seven Churches is awarded the title of first Death Metal album, but it’s a short step from Hell Awaits, and had death growls been employed here, the music would sound right at home on a pure Death Metal record.
3 likes
Track listing (Songs)
| title | rating | votes | video | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Hell Awaits | 6:16 | 97.1 | 34 | Audio |
| 2. | Kill Again | 4:56 | 91.3 | 30 | Audio |
| 3. | At Dawn They Sleep | 6:19 | 90.9 | 27 | Audio |
| 4. | Praise of Death | 5:20 | 88.9 | 27 | Audio |
| 5. | Necrophilliac | 3:45 | 93.2 | 31 | Audio |
| 6. | Crypts of Eternity | 6:38 | 87.5 | 26 | Audio |
| 7. | Hardening of the Arteries | 3:58 | 88.9 | 23 |
Line-up (members)
- Tom Araya : Vocals & Bass
- Jeff Hanneman : Guitars
- Kerry King : Guitars
- Dave Lombardo : Drums
10,437 reviews
| cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | Don't Be Swindle Review (1987) | 100 | Jan 15, 2020 | 0 | ||
 | | Scum Review (1987) | 95 | Jan 15, 2020 | 2 | ||
 | | Литургия (Litourgiya) Review (2015) | 90 | Jan 14, 2020 | 1 | ||
 | | 80 | Jan 13, 2020 | 0 | |||
 | | LMO Review (2013) | 95 | Jan 12, 2020 | 1 | ||
 | | Metal Health Review (1983) | 85 | Jan 11, 2020 | 9 | ||
 | | Strings to a Web Review (2010) | 95 | Jan 11, 2020 | 3 | ||
 | | Lucifer Incestus Review (2003) | 90 | Jan 10, 2020 | 1 | ||
 | | Angel of Revenge Review (2018) [Single] | 95 | Jan 9, 2020 | 5 | ||
 | | Abyssal Gods Review (2015) | 85 | Jan 9, 2020 | 1 | ||
 | | 80 | Jan 8, 2020 | 3 | |||
 | | The Perfect Machine Review (2005) | 90 | Jan 8, 2020 | 5 | ||
 | | Mirror of Souls Review (2008) | 100 | Jan 7, 2020 | 3 | ||
 | | 90 | Jan 6, 2020 | 1 | |||
 | | Marching Out Review (1985) | 80 | Jan 5, 2020 | 3 | ||
 | | Energetic Disassembly Review (1985) | 90 | Jan 5, 2020 | 1 | ||
 | | The Skull Review (1985) | 95 | Jan 5, 2020 | 2 | ||
 | | ▶ Hell Awaits Review (1985) | 100 | Jan 5, 2020 | 3 | ||
 | | Seven Churches Review (1985) | 90 | Jan 5, 2020 | 0 | ||
 | | 60 | Jan 5, 2020 | 0 |
Reign in Blood Review (1986)
Mefisto 100/100Jul 20, 2011 Likes : 15
[인간의 공격적인 성향과 본능을 모조리 음악에 담아내다.]
공격성만 따지자면 쓰레쉬메탈 내에서 거의 신적인 존재라고 할 수 있는 Slayer의 통상 마스터피스로 칭송받는 3집 앨범입니다. 지금까지도 여전히 신작들과 라이브에서 그 야만성을 표출하고 있는데 그 정점을 찍은 앨범은 바로... Read More
Reign in Blood Review (1986)
Divine Step 100/100Sep 15, 2018 Likes : 14
1986년 최강의 앨범.
정말 기라성 같은 명반들이 오조오억개 나오던 86년은 누가 뭐래도 스래쉬메탈의 해다
그 해 무슨 일이 있었나? 다들 각성제 한통 거하게 빤 정신나간 앨범을 찍어내다시피 했으니....
어쨌든 본작을 가리켜 86년 최고의 앨범이라 하면 좀 억울한 친구들이 몇 있다
워... Read More
Hell Awaits Review (1985)
Inverse 95/100Apr 8, 2019 Likes : 10
2집 앨범은 이래야 한다는 위대함과 중요함을 말해주는 걸작 중의 걸작.
많은 그룹의 음악을 듣다보며 느끼는 점인데, 결성된지 얼마 되지않은 그룹의 경우 1집 앨범은 정체성 보다는 음악활동을 이어가야 한다는 문제로 인하여 어설픈 결과물이 나오는 경향이 있는 것 같다. 물론 Led Zep... Read More
Show No Mercy Review (1983)
romulus 80/100Jul 19, 2007 Likes : 9
만화에 대해 어느정도 아시는 분이라면 만화 동인지가 어떤 것인지 잘 알 것이다. 만화 동인지를 보면서 언제나 느끼는 거지만, 동인지 만화가들이 정규 만화가들보다 잘 그리는 경우는 거의 없다. 둘 사이의 뛰어넘을 수 없는 질적인 벽은 어디서 생기는 것일까? 그것은 동인지 만화와 정... Read More
Hell Awaits Review (1985)
fruupp 95/100Dec 4, 2014 Likes : 7
4대천왕이니 3대기타리스트니하는 고리타분하고 천편일률적인 일본식 분류법이 맘에 들진 않지만 흥미유발이나 음악적허세를 부릴땐 긴요하게 쓰이는 경우가 있다. 쓰래쉬4인방이란 호칭도 마찬가지로 그들을 추종하는 매니아들에겐 알량한 자부심부여나 가십거리 제공에 상당히 요긴하... Read More
Reign in Blood Review (1986)
이준기 95/100Nov 20, 2014 Likes : 7
어딘가 데스메탈스러워 여태껏 구매를 망설이다 결국엔 언젠간 살때가 되어 사서 듣게된 슬레이어의 가장 유명한 앨범. 스래쉬메탈치고는 어딘가 사악한 느낌에 데스메탈스럽다고 느끼게 된것 같다. 시종일관 비슷한 기타리프에 정신없이 듣다보면 어느새 29분이라는 시간은 훌쩍 지나버... Read More
hellcorpse 90/100May 5, 2020 Likes : 6
1994년도 제가 94학번이라....이 당시 기억이 많이 납니다 ㅠㅠ
일단 Nirvana로 시작된 얼터너티브의 영역 확장, 그로 인한 Thrash의 몰락, L.A메탈 (글램메탈,팝메탈)의 종말, 뉴 메탈의 시작점이라 봐도 될 하드코어의 탄생 등등 메탈계는 뒤숭숭 했습니다.
특히 Rust in Peace로 Thrash 뿐 만 아니... Read More
Divine Step 95/100Mar 21, 2020 Likes : 6
1. 갑자기 슬레이어가 땡겼다. 내 첫사랑 슬레이어. 헤비메탈에 처음 입문한 뒤 이것저것 소프트한 음악 들으며 잡식성으로 살다가 슬레이어를 통해 스래쉬 메탈을 접했고, 스래쉬 메탈 덕에 다양한 장르와 테마(특히 '혐오스러운' 부류들)를 접할 수 있었다. 그렇게 내성이 생겼다. 예술이... Read More
South of Heaven Review (1988)
SilentScream213 100/100Aug 17, 2020 Likes : 5
South of Heaven was my first favorite album. The first one I ever listened to while thinking “god damn, this is music for me.” I had never heard sincerely dark or heavy music before that, and I never looked back.
It all started with my first videogame, DOOM. I played that game when I was just 2 years old – I worked the gun while my father did everything else, but it wa... Read More
South of Heaven Review (1988)
The DEAD 95/100Sep 2, 2019 Likes : 5
Slayer는 명실상부 Thrash라는 타이틀에 부합되는 밴드라는 것에는 이견이 없다. 그만큼 그들의 사운드는 가장 Thrash라는 음악과 가장 부합되는 사운드를 보여주었고, 그만큼의 음악적인 사운드를 만들어냈다. 그들이 Reign in Blood에서까지 보여준 사운드는 수많은 열혈 Thrasher들에게 각광을 받... Read More
Show No Mercy Review (1983)
SilentScream213 100/100Jul 7, 2019 Likes : 5
I’ve always loved Slayer, this album being among my favorite releases by them, but it becomes so much more amazing when compared to the contemporaries at the time. Absolutely nothing was this insane – not even close.
Speed? We had Metallica, but they’d only go into overdrive on a couple songs – and even then, it never matched Slayer. Tremolo guitar picking has never b... Read More
Hell Awaits Review (1985)
Sathanas 100/100Aug 18, 2013 Likes : 5
Structural Standard of Thrash Metal...
Slayer 는 前作 'Show No Mercy' 에서 Venom 의 Satanism 사상과 기법을 계승하여 Heavy Metal 의 구조를 따르고 있지만 Hardcore Punk 의 잔재가 남아있는 태고적 America Thrash Metal 을 들려줬다. 그런데 3년 후 Slayer 는 Hardcore Punk 의 잔재를 깨끗하게 걷어내고 사악하고 폭력적인 T... Read More
Show No Mercy Review (1983)
Sathanas 90/100Aug 5, 2013 Likes : 5
Cause of Pure Fucking Thrash Metal!!
Slayer 는 사상적 기반을 마련한 Venom 의 영향 아래 First Full-length 인 本作 'Show No Mercy' 를 발매하였다. Venom 의 기법을 계승하였지만 Thrash Metal 의 태동기였던 시절을 생각한다면 Hardcore Punk 의 익살스러운 창법이 지배적이다. 하지만 Slayer 는 당대의 태초의 Thrash Band... Read More
South of Heaven Review (1988)
슬홀 94/100Nov 3, 2009 Likes : 5
슬레이어의 네번째 정규 앨범으로 엄청난 스피드와 살벌한 사운드로 밀어부쳤던 전작 Reign In Blood와는 다소 다른 묵직한 곡들이 많이 수록되어 있다. 그러나 이 느낌은 어느 정도 메탈음악을 많이 듣고서 받은 느낌이고 처음 들었을 때는 헤비메탈 음악을 채 100곡도 듣지 않은 상황이라 슬... Read More
