Music Review-#3-Slayer-Hell Awaits

Man, it's been a long time since my last review but anyway, I'm back and with a new album to review. This album is by Slayer and it called Hell Awaits. Released in 1985, a year before Thrash Metal hit mainstream consciousness, I consider it the Slayer's best album in Metal Blade. This is actually Slayer's second album, with their first titled Show No Mercy back in '83 also released in Metal Blade. There is a total of 7 tracks in this album but are fairly lengthy. So is it an album worthy enough for you to buy it or does it suck the big one? Read on to find out!

1.Hell Awaits- At first you hear nothing, but wait! Don't turn up the volume just yet! It gradually builds up and your demonic voices saying "Join us" but backwards and then you hear a DEEP, demonic voice saying "Welcome back!!". When I first that, I jumped! Then the song starts and its actually very good. This song is about Satanic forces battling angels.

2. Kill Again- This song is also very cool. Starts off a bit slow but then picks up and the music is awsome. A song about killing people.

3.At Dawn They Sleep- This song is about vampires, y'know, back when they were cool to sing about in Heavy Metal music. This is possibly the slowest song off the album and gets even slower towards the ending. It's only fast for about 45 seconds towards the end. Decent song.

4.Praise of Death- Now this is were things start to pick up again. Starts out with a snare drum and BANG!! The song starts. There is a really neat bass line in the middle. Drives me mad whenever I hear it. This song is about nihilism or something like that.

5. Necrophiliac- Start out with guitar and then the song starts. Really cool song about,well, necrophilia.

6. Crypts of Eternity- Starts off with some tribal riff. It's a little slow but it a cool song. It's about the Devil.

7. Hardening of the Arteries- No, it's not about a heart attack, however, it's about the end of the world. Great song and after the song is done, they play the intro to Hell Awaits.

Well, that was short but then again, it's only 7 tracks. I think this is a really good album, a lot better than their debut. Here this is were Slayer finally abandoned their NWOBHM influenced sound in exchange for pure Thrash Metal (Along with their EP Haunting of the Chapel). Do I recommend it. Yes. This is the most unique Slayer album I've heard so far. Pick it up whenever you get the chance.

4.25 out of 5