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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Slayer's debut album, July 22, 2006
In 1981, a band out of Southern California known as "Dragonslayer" was formed by singer/bassist Tom Araya and guitarist Kerry King. A drummer, Dave Lombardo, was quickly found, and Jeff Hanneman was brought in as a second guitarist later into 1981. Most of their music at this time was influenced by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that was sweeping through the world during the early 1980s, but after attending a Metallica concert in 1982, they were hell bent on playing harder and faster than said band and shortened their name to Slayer. By 1983, they were already signed to Metal Blade Records and released their debut album, Show No Mercy. How did it turn out? Read on for my review.
Well, this album is very different than all of the Slayer albums that succeeded it, because Slayer was still in transition between their NWOBHM roots and the extreme thrash powerhouse they would eventually become. Many of the tempos are modest compared to their later releases and Tom Araya shows off a very wide vocal style (all the way from low-pitch growls to Halford-like schreeches). However, look away from some of the things the band were still growing out of during this timeframe, and you'll find one of Slayer's best releases.
Many of the songs on this album remain classic live staples to this day (Antichrist, Die by the Sword, Black Magic), while others sound like they came straight from a Judas Priest record (Cryonics, Tormentor). I love all the variety on this album, from the progressive monster that is Metal Storm/Face The Slayer (my fave off the album) to the adrenaline-fueled tital track.
Overall, if you are a NWOBHM fan and a thrash metal fan, or a Slayer fan looking to round out your collection, you need to buy this album! It's still one of their best albums!
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A "Merciless" debut, October 21, 2005
As of 1983 (when this album came out) Slayer were still an underground band, and their type of music was still relatively unheard of. Only Metallica and (Slayer's influences) Venom and Motorhead dared to venture into music this speedy. But since this disc was released, an almost countless number of imitators have cropped up.
Every basic ingredient is here for a classic album: evil lyrics, insane guitar work (including blindingly fast riffs, great leads and scorching solos), pounding drums, high pitched vocals, and even an occasionally audible bass guitar! In fact, virtually the whole album flies by like a black tornado. Track one, "Evil Has No Boundaries," begins the album with a bang, and shoots out of the gate with a blistering main riff and a skin crawling shriek from (vocalist) Tom (Araya). "The Antichrist" is the first of three classic songs on here (alongside "Die By The Sword" and "Black Magic"). "The Antichrist" has a couple guitar solos and the aforementioned audible, beeping bass line! Next, "Die By The Sword" has fast, churning riffs, and a nice, extended solo, "Black Magic" has more blindingly fast riffs, "Tormentor" has probably the best solo on the album, and I enjoy how "Crionics" builds and gains density (with the help of a few guitar solos). Finally, the title track has great, catchy drumming, as well as even more riffs which shoot by like white noise.
So, "Show No Mercy," Slayer's debut, is as brutal as it is relentless and merciless. It isn't a classic like, say, "Reign In Blood," but it's still a good album and it foreshadowed the greatness to come from future Slayer releases. Thus, this is a great history lesson for those who are new to thrash or interested in its beginnings, and it is essential listening for diehards of this genre and this band.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
thrash is supposed to sound like this, May 25, 2006
this is and probably always will be my favorite thrash album. in my opinion thrash needs to be a little campy, it's what makes it fun. this album was chock full of over the top satanic lyrics, fun as hell riffs, fully air guitar worthy solo action, and enough leather and spikes to outfit some weird german porno. as far as i'm concerned this was the absolute best slayer album. don't get me wrong, the other ones are good, but tom and crew kinda started taking themselves too seriously forgeting that thrash is about fun, not macho posturing. in my opion this album and whiplash 'Power and Pain' are the best, buy them, bask in their ever so 80's glory, and just rock the chuck out... hailz
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