Customer Reviews

Slaughter In The Vatican

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many an old school thrash fan will tell you Slayer's 'Reign In Blood' is the pinnacle of thrash's achievements, the perfect blend of aggression, speed and metallic rage. Others will cite Dark Angel's 'Darkness Descends'. Personally, I prefer Exhorder's 'Slaughter in The Vatican' to both of those albums.

Where 'Reign...' is often too fast for it's own good, and 'Darkness...' suffers from poor production, 'Slaughter In The Vatican' is everything good thrash should be- heavy, fast, uncompromising and vicious. Exhorder come from New Orleans, the home of much violent and twisted music, and for sheer headbutt you in the face, kick you in the head nastiness, Exhorder is hard to beat. If you think this is just hype, consider the fact that one of the band members was once jailed for attacking another. We're not talking handbags at dawn, but kicking down his door, shotgun in hand, intending to kill.

Thankfully, guitarist Vinnie LaBella's attempt to kill drummer Chris Nail was unsuccessful. If it had been, some of the most inspiring extreme thrash ever recorded would not have ever emerged from the Louisiana bayou. By now, Exhorder virgins are probably wondering "but what the hell makes it so good?" To be honest, it's hard to tell exactly, but a combination of factors adds up to a final product far greater than the sum of its parts.

Probably the first thing you notice about Exhorder is the rhythm guitar sound. The word chainsaw comes to mind. A chainsaw with guitar pick ups attached, trying to cut through half inch steel plating, that is. Next are the drums. As hard hitting as anything Dave Lombardo or Gene Hoglan has ever produced, Chris Nail's performance stomps all over both of them. Coming from New Orleans with it's fine Cajun and jazz traditions, it was inevitable Nail's surroundings would have an influence on his style. The off beat syncopation and deft drum fills here almost have you hitting the rewind button to hear them again, so you can check you really heard what you think you heard. Unlike other drummers who mix up styles, Nail loses none of his brutality, nor does any of the time changes and the like distract from the overall effect.

Kyle Thomas's throat shredding vocals are reminiscent of a more tuneful Roger Miret (Agnostic Front). Rather than barking tunes about hardcore unity though, Exhorder deal in a hatred of organised religion, violence and um... literature. The album title conveys a bit of the band's disdain for the church, but rather than descending into comic book Satanism like Deicide, the lyrics are pure venomous hatred. "Desecrator" is the pick of the whole album. It is the perfect mix of brutality, both musically and lyrically, and builds from a threatening, moody intro to an out and out hardcore thrash-out by the end of the song. "Anal Lust" and "Homicide" are pure violence. The rest of the album seems to be inspired by Edgar Allen Poe and HP Lovecraft.

While Exhorder were overlooked during their career, several years down the track their influence has been recognised. Their albums now command many times their original price when sold second hand. If you have not heard the band, you may think it is all hype. If you are familiar with the band, then you'll understand fully.

Okay, I do find Pantera enjoyable. I'm not gonna knock 'em for their mainstream success, I'm not like that at all, and it's truly a shame that we lost Dime. However, Pantera does NOT match up to the awesomeness of Exhorder. Their debut is by far the most INTENSE thrash album of the 90's, maybe of all time. I mean, this is some great stuff! The guitar tone is up there with the Heaviest and Thickest I've ever heard, and it attacks you like a angry mob with chainsaws. The drumming is pummeling, puts an amazing effect on the overall brutality of the albums, Chris Nail will crush your Head! Kyle's voice has a full tank of High-test testosterone, he cetainly brings on the anger that makes this album so exciting. And don't even get me started on the RIFFS. There are so friggin many!! And they go into those brutal Thrash breaks at the PERFECT time (not like your average mediocre metalcore band that goes to a breakdown every 4 seconds). Without question in my top 5 albums. If you are looking for brutal metal with catchy riffs and adrenaline pumping choruses, then you have found your path, my friend. Slaughter in the Vatican is all you need. This was a time before the NOLA scene got stale.

I've been a fan of thrash-metal since'86, I've heard some killer albums in my time. This album hangs with the best of 'em out there, no doubt!! There's not one disappointing song on this album. I highly recommend purchasing this CLASSIC album, I give you my word, you won't be disappointed.

I have the original Slaughter in the vatican and this remaster, by metalmind is again amazing. Sound is very loud and all the instruments are clearer. Once Death in Vain hits and you hear teh pummeling double bass and guitars you know this remaster is amazing. Crank this sucker up, sound is 10x better than the original! One of the best thrash albums ever!!!

forget anythnig youve ever heard about any other album, buy this album, give it many listens, read all the reviews and interviews you can about it, then listen again, and you will truly realize how immensely brutal this album is, the pinnacle of thrash metal.

Brutal thrash. Aggressive pounding in yer face with a baseball bat! This has a death metal production but the music is speed/thrash. Vocals will remind you of Pantera but please, exhorder came along well before them guys. I love the riffs on this album as they shine over The Law! Get the double CD deal as its cheaper but i am sure the original version from back in the day costs a pretty penny. A must in any thrash head's collection!!!!

I had to snag this on tape (got it for ike 4$)a few year's back because this album on CD use to go in the 100$'s on ebay..a lot of people know how hard it is to find this original CD..something I have not done yet..but will someday!!
I have the twofer cd as well as the tape..but the tape count's as the original which is why I am reviewing this version.. plus the tape has the lyric's and the thankz list and what not!! the twofer cd had none of that!!.ok so anwayz..

This record has a total CULT fanbase..everything about this is something that will alwayz make me wanna kill everything in my PATH!!

This is one of the most pissed off album's EVER!!! this take's the CRO-MAGS,BLACK FLAG,SLAYER,EARLY METALLICA..etc ..throw's it all in a HATE BLENDER and come's out SPITTING AT YOU!!

And man this is so FASSSSSSTTTTTTTT!!! haha..maybe the most speedey thing you will ever hear..it's just the way the song's hit you it make's your head EXPLODE!!! and they have plenty of SABBATH type stuff as well( what band from NOLA didnt??) These guyz all put in 666% effort on this..and it show's..you will never get another singer like Thomas again..he fit the music so well with out screaming his head off every second!!

And remember EXHORDER formed in like 84'..so they had a HUGE impact on the NOLA band's!! them and GRAVEYARD RODEO(see my review) were the first of the NOLA batch!!

As I said one of the BEST DEBUT ALBUM's EVER!!!!!!!

The follow up ''the law'' is good as well..but has NOTHING on this..not many album's do have anything on this!!

I hear Kyle Thomas(the singer) is supportive of David Duke as well..which is good to hear!! that maybe a rumor though!

A MOMENT IN TIME!!!!!!!!!1990!! NOLA!!!!!!! IT WILL NEVER BE THIS WAY AGAIN!!!!

I WILL ALWAYZ BLAST THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! have since I was16!!

A LEGEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

''DESECRATOR......AHHHHHHH''

GET RUDE!!!!!!!!

well...the first song i ever heard from Exhorder was Desecrator.....which was found on a compilation cd titled At Deaths Door...anywho...i was blown away and of course had to buy the disc...i was pleased witht he overall sound aside from the overendulged speed display mingled with blatent obscenity (i.e.) AnalLust...but true to form...they have a unique sound that unfortunately has been mimicked by such bands like Pantera....I mean...when i was listening to this ...Pantera was still rounding up cattle and canary calling their way through the metal scene...but regaurdless...it is nice to see where the ball got rolling...check it out if you haven't done so already!