Formed: 1982
From:
Huntington Beach,
CA,
United States
Last Known Status: Active
Background
The thrash metal sound of Slayer was formed in Huntington Beach, CA in 1982. Comprising Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitar), Jeff Hanneman (guitar) and Dave Lombardo (drums), they made their debut in 1983, with a track on the compilation Metal Massacre III. After that the rest has been history. The band played at breakneck speed with amazing technical precision, but the intricacies of detail were lost in a muddy production. Araya's lyrics dealt with death, carnage, Satanism and torture, but were reduced to an indecipherable guttural howl. But this chaos called music is what set the ways for Slayer and many bands to follow.
Through the years, Slayer has been hit with much controversy over their lyrics, including lawsuits. But through the years Slayer has managed to build a following from coast to coast. Slayer has played such tours as Monsters of Rock, Ozzfest, and recently toured the U.S. co-headling with Pantera.
Now almost 20 years later, Slayer is still playing just as hard as ever. Will Slayer ever stop? Not likely, considering they are keeping up with thrash bands half their age, after all they did start it!
Latest Slayer News
Below is our complete Slayer news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Note: We began associating news directly with bands in late 2003. Therefore, earlier band news may not be listed on this page.
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Kerry King Explains The Future Of Slayer
The Quietus has issued the following report from John Doran:
While interviewing Kerry King for a Pulling Focus feature in The Stool Pigeon music paper, we were party to some very interesting news indeed. That SLAYER have another two albums left in them. At least.
Earlier this year singer/bassist with the thrash metal titans, Tom Araya, told Superman's Dad Jor El McIver, a music journalist writing for Thrash Hits that he found the idea of 50-year-old men headbanging "cringe" worthy: "Seeing a 50-year-old man headbanging on stage would make me cringe. If I was watching that, I’d think, ‘Dude, you’re a little too old for that, aren’t you? You’re gonna fall off!’" This was taken to mean that the band, all in their mid to late 40s, only had one album left to release. More...
Read the full article at The Quietus.
Amon Amarth Stage Times For Unholy Alliance Tour
AMON AMARTH has announced the stage times for the band's performances on the just-started UNHOLY ALLIANCE III tour. Some stage times are earlier than announced on tickets or presale sites, so make sure to be there early enough to see them.
Germany / Sweden
5:30pm doors
5:45pm - 6:00pm 15 minutes of fame
6:15pm - 6:45pm Mastodon
7:05pm - 7:55pm AMON AMARTH
8:15pm - 9:00pm Trivium
9:30pm - 11:00pm Slayer
Rest of Europe
5:30pm doors
5:45pm - 6:00pm 15 minutes of fame
6:15pm - 6:45pm AMON AMARTH
7:05pm - 7:55pm Mastodon
8:15pm - 9:00pm Trivium
9:30pm - 11:00pm Slayer
Here are the remaining UNHOLY ALLIANCE III tour dates: More...
New Slayer Song "Psycopathy Red" Leaked
The full version of a new Slayer song entitled "Psycopathy Red" has been posted online via YouTube. You can check it out below. The song chronicles the mind of Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. Slayer has recently been in the studio recording three new songs including, "Psycopathy Red" as well as two yet to be named songs. More...
Slayer Posts Another Studio Clip Online
British metal magazine Metal Hammer has uploaded another video of thrash metal legends Slayer hard at work on a brand new studio album. You can watch the new clip by heading to this location. Slayer will be a part of the third Unholy Alliance tour along with Trivium, Mastodon and Amon Amarth which kicks off tonight in Manchester, England and has announced that they will be filming the second show in London for a new live DVD.
Slayer Records Three New Songs For New Album
Slayer spent some weeks in a recording studio in late September/early October to record three new songs for their new album which will be released spring/summer 2009. One of the songs is called "Psychopathy Red," a Jeff Hanneman track which gives you a look into the mind of Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. You can listen to a clip of the song at Spin.com.
As previously reported, fans who attend any of the upcoming European "Unholy Alliance Tour, Chapter III" dates, will receive the new Slayer song via an exclusive download card that will also include special material from the entire tour's line-up - Slayer, Mastodon, Trivium and Amon Amarth. The download card, along with a limited edition "Unholy Alliance Tour" clothing patch, will be given away free only to ticket holders when they arrive at their local venue the night of the show.
Iranian Metal Band Ahoora Portrayed As Terrorists
Iranian metal band Ahoora has posted a message detailing their dealings with someone putting together a Slayer compilation album who has decided on their own accord to portray the band as terrosists. Here is the post from the band:
"Attention please! During the recording days of All in Blood with You we were contacted by a guy from Russian Slayer fan club. He told us that he was going to prepare a tribute album with worldwide participants, celebrating 25 years of slayer. We accepted the offer and recorded Blood Red off the classic Seasons in the Abyss. The track and the signed contract were sent to him. For months we were sending him emails following the project and yet there were no proper responses. Finally after almost a year we were informed that the album was going to be out early September 2008. We found a promo video about this album in You Tube. The video represents the bands involved in the Cd, Sliding the images while captioning the band names. When it comes to Ahoora, you'll see a picture of four suicide bombers with name Ahoora!!! Yes totally fuc*ing unbelievable!
"While we were unable to think of any idea that might've occurred to the guy's head; all our emails regarding this matter left unanswered. Then we found out that they have used the same picture in the booklet too! It seems that our bright guy had decided to do this as a brilliant business-wise innovation yet he had been unable to own the comprehension needed in this business. The harm that this thing will do to our image, in any size, is completely unforgivable. This IS the true terrorism within the media. Thanks for taking time to read this. Stay True!"
The Scarlet Hourglass Added To Unholy Alliance
Swindon based metallers The Scarlet Hourglass has posted the following message online:
"We're really fucking stoked and honored to announce that we have been chosen to open the Unholy Alliance tour on November 2nd at Cardiff International Arena!
"We'll be supporting Slayer, Trivium, Amon Amarth and Mastodon
"We hope to see lots of you there, get down early and check us out for the biggest show of our lives"
Slayer To Film New Live DVD
Thrash metal gods Slayer has made two important announcements regarding the bands shows in London soon. The first is that on the first night in London, the band will perform their classic 1986 album, "Reign In Blood" from start to finish. On the second night in London, the band will be filming the concert for a brand new live DVD. The band will also be performing the whole "Reign In Blood" album at both Swedish shows. This is part of the Unholy Alliance tour with Trivium, Mastodon and Amon Amarth which is currently trekking across Europe. More details will follow soon.
Slayer Giving Away New Song On European Tour
A brand-new Slayer album is expected in 2009, but some fans won't have to wait that long to get an early listen to some of the new music. Fans who attend any of the upcoming European "Unholy Alliance Tour, Chapter III" dates (listed below), will receive the new Slayer song via an exclusive download card that will also include special material from the entire tour's line-up - Slayer, Mastodon, Trivium and Amon Amarth. The download card, along with a limited edition "Unholy Alliance Tour" clothing patch, will be given away free only to ticket holders when they arrive at their local venue the night of the show.
The new Slayer song is being recorded as you read this, as Slayer has just entered a Los Angeles-area studio to begin recording the new album. More info on the free song and new album will be announced shortly. In addition, Trivium's "Kirisute Gomen" from their new album, "Shogun" (released September 30), and "Guardians of Asgaard," a new song from Amon Amarth's "Twilight of the Thunder God" (released September 30), will also be part of the download package. Mastodon opted to do something a little different for their contribution to the tour download - the band will take fans into the recording studio for a first-look and listen to the making of their upcoming album. Plus, a live-in-concert Slayer performance filmed at the band's 2007 San Diego Sports Arena show will be included in the "Unholy Alliance Tour" download package.
The European leg of the mighty "Unholy Alliance Tour, Chapter III" kicks off in Manchester, England on October 27 and will play more than two-dozen shows over a five week period. A North American leg is being planned for 2009.
Confirmed dates for the European "Unholy Alliance Tour, Chapter III" are as follows: More...
King, Hegg To Guest on Bruce Dickinson Radio Show
SLAYER guitarist Kerry King and AMON AMARTH frontman Johan Hegg will be IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson's guests on Friday, October 3 during Bruce's weekly BBC 6 Music radio program, dubbed "The Bruce lDickinson Friday Rock Show." You can listen to the broadcast live via the Internet between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. (midnight) U.K. time at bbc.co.uk.
SLAYER, TRIVIUM, MASTODON and AMON AMARTH will team up for "The Unholy Alliance: Chapter III" European tour in the fall.
AMON AMARTH will be playing after Mastodon and before Trivium and Slayer in Germany and Sweden. AMON AMARTH will play before Mastodon in all other territories.
AMON AMARTH's latest album "Twilight Of The Thunder God" is in stores all over Europe now.
More Unholy Alliance III Tour Dates Confirmed
More dates have been added to the upcoming European leg of the Unholy Alliance III tour which features Slayer, Trivium, Mastodon and Amon Amarth.
The tour dates are as follows (new dates marked with **):
October 27 - Manchester, England - Manchester Arena
October 28 - Birmingham, England - NEC
October 30 - London, England - Hammersmith Apollo
October 31 - London, England - Hammersmith Apollo
November 2 - Cardiff, Wales - CIA 7000
November 3 - Glasgow, Scotland - SECC Hall 3
November 5 - Offenbach, Germany - Stadthalle
November 6 - Köln, Germany - Palladium
November 7 - Amsterdam, Holland - Heineken Music Hall
November 9 - Stuttgart, Germany - Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
November 10 - Winterthur, Switzerland - Eishalle Deutweg
November 11 - Paris, France - Le Zenith
November 12 - Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis/Lotto Arena
November 16 - Wein, Austria - Gasometer
November 17 - Prague, Czech Republic - Incheba Hall
November 18 - München, Germany - Zenith
November 19 - Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle
November 21 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Valby Hallen **
November 22 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Lisebergshallen (Amon Amarth as direct support to Slayer)
November 23 - Stockholm, Sweden - Hovet **
November 24 - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum **
November 26 - Tampere, Finland - Old Ice Hall **
November 27 - Helsinki, Finland - Old Ice Hall **
"Global Metal" Documentary Features Orphaned Land
Kobi Farhi, vocalist of Israel’s ORPHANED LAND has posted the following statement regarding the status of the band’s highly anticipated follow-up to 2004’s much celebrated "Mabool" album as well as their participation in the upcoming new documentary by Sam Dunn ("Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey") "Global Metal:"
"Hello to all the orphans out there! We are happy to inform you that the writing process of our long awaited album 'The Never Ending Way Of OrwarriOR' is about to end soon, we have more than 90 minutes of written music. We don’t like to repeat ourselves, so do not expect a 'Mabool Vol. 2”! Of course, the female vocals and the oriental instruments will be there as always, but “ORwarriOR” is different and I can say for sure that it is more extreme, powerful and less progressive. Still, like all our albums, it is ORPHANED LAND and you'll all notice that. Watch out for the first single, which is the opener of the album called: 'Sapari!'" More...
Metal Stars Confirmed For Dimebag Tribute
The Ozzfest live tribute to fallen Pantera/ Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott has began to take a clearer shape with many big name members of the metal community confirmed. The musicians will perform a set of Pantera classics after the set of Hellyeah at Ozzfest. Among the confirmed artists are:
Vinnie Paul (Pantera, Damageplan, Hellyeah)
Kerry King (Slayer)
Scott Ian (Anthrax)
Charlie Benante (Anthrax)
Mike Inez (Alice In Chains)
Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
King Diamond (Mercyful Fate, Solo artist)
Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
Chad Gray (Mudvayne, Hellyeah)
Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed, Icepick, Kingdom Of Sorrow)
Bob Zilla (Damageplan, Hellyeah)
Dimebag's former girlfriend Rita Haney has said about the tribute: “To have this event on the Mainstage at OZZFest in Dallas is such a treat and an honor!” says Rita Haney. “When this tragedy originally happened, I saw the music community come together like I've never seen before. To have the name ‘Dimebag’ still, to this day, unite musicians to pay homage in such a respectful way, is very overwhelming! In Dime's vision, it's always been about a damn good time!"
“When we decided on Dallas as the site for this year’s OZZFest, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to ‘Dimebag’ Darrell since it was his hometown,” said Sharon Osbourne. “’Dimebag’ was a part of our OZZFest family and everyone in the metal community misses him dearly.”
Paul Romano Releases Originals For Sale
Known by many for his contribution to the music scene for creating amazing works of art for album packaging, fine artist, Paul Romano is now releasing a number of originals for sale to the public for the first time ever on Ebay. Within this first offering of originals, you will find original works of art pertaining to the following bands and their albums: Chiodos, Trivium, Mastodon, At All Cost, The Red Chord, High On Fire, Slayer and This Mourning After.
As the studio overflows with original work, Paul has made the choice to share his work with the public. Over the years many fans of Paul's work have asked for the opportunity to purchase original works and now that request is granted. Never before seen sketches and original works are now available for bidding.
Stay tuned in the coming months, as this will be an ongoing project offering various originals on Ebay.
Check out the various auctions on Ebay (most end late tomorrow, July 22):
This Mourning After - "The Sleep"
Mastodon/Remission Original Pen and Ink
The Red Chord - "Bird Bath"
Mastodon - "Blood Mountain" Booklet
Mastodon - "Colony Of Birchmen"-
High On Fire Original Pen and Ink
Chiodos - "Couple (un)connected"
Chiodos - "Bone Palace Ballet"
At All Cost - Original Pen and Ink
At All Cost - Original Graphite Drawing
Slayer/Decibel Mag
Trivium - "Becoming The Dragon"
View the artwork of Paul Romano at his official site and MySpace page.
Slayer Frontman Explains U.A. Trivium Slot
In a recent interview with Thrash Hits, Slayer frontman Tom Araya explained why more established acts like Trivium and Mastodon were being given slots on the Unholy Alliance tour instead of younger groups. An excerpt from the conversation is as follows:
Q: Some people would say that you, Slayer, are in a position to give smaller bands much-needed exposure by taking them on tour with you, rather than taking Trivium and Mastodon out who are already established.
A: "I hate to say this, but at this stage of the game, for as many years as we’ve been out as a band, it’s about income. When it comes to having a band who you would love to give exposure to, in all honesty, you would have to be really wowed by that band. I can honestly say that there’s only been one other band in recent times that has done that for us, and that’s SYSTEM OF A DOWN. Nobody knew them, but we heard them and we were like ‘Fuck! Let’s take these guys out on the road’. And look what happened."
Read the full article at Thrash Hits.
Amon Amarth Added To Euro Unholy Alliance Tour
Renowed Swedish death metal band AMON AMARTH has been added to the "Unholy Alliance Tour, Chapter III" lineup, which features Slayer, Trivium, and Mastodon.
The UK/Euro run kicks off in Manchester, England on October 27 and will play nearly two dozen shows over a four-week period. This is the third installment of what has been hailed as "the heaviest, darkest tour of the year." With more dates to be announced, the initial itinerary for the European "Unholy Alliance Tour, Chapter III" is as follows: More...
Trivium Announces Title Of New Album
Trivium has officially announced the release of "Shogun," their third album for Roadrunner Records. "Shogun" will be released on September 30.
Trivium has changed it up yet again on "Shogun," choosing not to record in the familiar environs of their home state of Florida. Instead the band headed to Nashville, Tennessee to work with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Stone Sour). The result is "a monolithic album that crystallizes the band's sound and showcases Trivium's finest elements."
Vocalist/guitarist Matt Heafy is thrilled with the album, saying, "We made a cohesive, epic metal album that combines all of the ingredients of everything we feel we have ever done 'right' musically, while adding a new direction that the music called for. We had so much fun creating this album and hope our fans feel that energy when they listen."
Even Slayer's Kerry King expressed excitement about touring with the band this fall on the "Unholy Alliance: Chapter 3" European tour. He commented to the UK's Total Guitar magazine, "I'll be at the side of the stage watching them. Great players like that make us want to do better."
Slayer Reveals Summer European Festival Schedule
Slayer has revealed its European summer festivals schedule for 2008.
Here are Slayer's festival appearances:
June 20th Bilbao Kobetasonik Spain
June 22nd Clisson Hellfest France
June 24th Belgrade Tasmajdan Stadium Serbia
June 27th Nové Mesto Topfest Slovakia
June 28th Bologna Gods of Metal Festival Italia
June 29th Helsinki Tuska Festival Finland
July 1st Tallinn Eesti Naituste Messikeskus Estonia
July 3rd Arvika Arvikafestivalen Sweden
July 4th Werchter Rock Werchter Belgium
July 5th Bergum Waldrock Netherlands
July 6th Roskilde Roskilde Festival Denmark
July 7th Kavarna Kaliakra Rock Fest Bulgaria
July 9th Lisboa Super Bock Super Rock Portugal
July 11th Merida Via De La Plata Festival Spain
July 12th Zaragoza Monsters of Rock Spain More...
More Unholy Alliance Tour Dates Announced
More dates have surfaced for the European Unholy Alliance tour this autumn, featuring Slayer, Trivium and Mastodon.
Nov. 05 - Offenbach, GER - Stadthalle
Nov. 06 - Köln, GER - Palladium
Nov. 09 - Stuttgart, GER - Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
Nov. 10 - Winterthur, SWI - Eishalle Deutweg
Nov. 11 - Paris, FRA - Le Zenith
Nov. 16 - Wein, AUT - Gasometer
Nov. 18 - München, GER - Zenith
Nov. 19 - Berlin, GER - Columbiahalle
Nov. 29 - Moscow, RUS - B1 Maximum
Please note that the Moscow show may not be part of the Unholy Alliance tour as it is a rescheduled Slayer show.
"Get Thrashed" DVD Release Date Announced
"Get Thrashed: The Story Of Thrash Metal" will be released on DVD in August. The DVD features footage and interviews with thrash legends ranging from Metallica to Kreator to Hirax. You can read an interview with director Rick Ernst at this location.
The complete list of bands interviewed is as follows:
Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Godsmack, Hatebreed, Megadeth, Testament, Overkill, Death Angel, Shadows Fall, Meshuggah, In Flames, Strapping Young Lad, Stone Sour, Superjoint Ritual, Lamb of God, Vio-lence, Kreator, Sodom, Destruction , Nuclear Assault, Voivod, Chimaira, Biohazard, Fozzy/WWE Superstar Chris Jericho, Sepultura, Kittie, The Haunted, DRI, Soilwork, Killswitch Engage, Heathen, Hirax More...
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