SLAYER
HELL AWAITS
Listen on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Google Play or wherever you get your Podcasts.
Consider supporting us at Patreon - patreon.com/metalnerderypodcast
Some links may be affiliate links. This means that we may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you purchase something through the links provided. Metal Nerdery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
“There’s just something about those first 2 Slayer records…” 1985.
This was a time in history where Thrash Metal was quickly taking over the musical landscape and proving that things were about to get a whole lot darker, faster and heavier (and EVILER of course, much to the chagrin of the PMRC!).
Released: March 1985
Recorded Sep-Oct 1984 at Eldorado Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Production
Carolyn Collins – assistant engineer
Ron Fair – engineer
Bernie Grundman – mastering
Albert Cuellar – artwork
Brian James – layout design
Bill Metoyer – engineer
Lowell Katz – photography
Brian Slagel – producer
Slayer – producer
Tom Araya – vocals, bass
Kerry King – guitars
Jeff Hanneman – guitars
Dave Lombardo – drums
Side one
"Hell Awaits" 6:16
2. "Kill Again 4:56
3. "At Dawn They Sleep" 6:17
Side two
4. "Praise of Death" 5:21
5. "Necrophiliac" 3:46
6. "Crypts of Eternity” 6:40
7." Hardening of the Arteries" 3:55
37:11 in length (and width)
If you play Hell Awaits backwards, it says JOIN US (that should sound kinda familiar, right?
RIGHT!? That’s right).
Thrashmetal IQ.Com (Hell Awaits Trivia): Fascinating Fun Factoids about Hell Awaits.
https://thrashmetaliq.com/2019/03/16/slayer-hell-awaits-lp-1985-metal-blade-records/
Slayer’s 2nd album, ‘Hell Awaits’, had ALL of the necessary ingredients to make the quantum leap forward with their increasingly darker lyrical imagery and apocalyptic sonic palette.
So fix your favorite relaxer, turn off the outside world for an hour or so and JOIN US (or rather, SU NIOJ) as we dive into the album, the tracks, and of course any and all tangentionally related ‘Hell Awaits’ and Slayer factoids; including some which blew our hair back and some that were just fucking hysterious.
HELL AWAITS:
JOIN US (but backwards: Su Nioj…WELCOME BACK!!).
Instantly, a wall of darkness descends; infinite hell all around, crushing you down with the solid thud of death.
And then slowly, wearily, marching infinitely towards eternal suffering and hell on the horizon; lieutenants of Satan corralling the eternally damned souls into an infinite orgy of suffering and pleasure.
Swords drawn, marching towards Hell…UNLEASH!
I still will always love the opening version of this on Decade of Aggression but the production on Hell Awaits is so dark and evil and satanic and just…FUCKING SLAYER!!
Even when I was younger, there was something about Slayer that always scared the shit out of me, because they literally threw it in people’s faces at a time when HOLY FUCK did people over react!?
KILL AGAIN:
Drums were definitely way more up front on this one than Show No Mercy (which we covered on our 1st 4 of the BIG 4 Episode).
They really did have a knack for a certain kind of dark imagery in the earlier days; especially the first 2 albums, and definitely this one.
Macabre is a fitting word for Slayer’s lyrical imagery.
And WE at Metal Nerdery are HUGE supporters of said Slayertastical imagery. Check out our SLAYER Tribute Episode here
AT DAWN THEY SLEEP:
Duh: Vampires. Slayer always had the creepier than average harmonies.
Like sometimes, YEARS ago, I’d get really “relaxed” and I’d listen to slayer and have all kinds of evil, hellish imagery listening to them but their harmonies always just evoked this weird gargoyle kinda vibe.
Art imitating life; eternal greedwhore gargoyles watching over us all in Hell.
I remember when I first saw Slayer mentioned in the metal mags; Circus, Hit Parader; probably the beginning of Metal Edge; they were always referenced as having a much “darker” vibe.
One listen to their lyrics will show you why; ESPECIALLY in 1980’s America.
PRAISE OF DEATH:
GO! “We’re only living to die”. This song just doesn’t let up.
Into the more progressive solo section.
This is (ironically) Slayer’s most “progressive” album, in terms of length, and yet, it’s like 9 minutes longer than Reign in Blood.
They always had the creepy feedback too.
Very graveyard, “Haunting the Chapel”, vivid kind of imagery.
The kind of shit you could make movies out of (#backshadowing).
NECROPHILIAC:
That’s a killer opening evil harmony; this started to have the feel of Reign in Blood, song wise; in terms of the sound and the feel and the structure.
Definitely that creepy Slayer riff sound. And of course the subject matter. In case you’re wondering, Tom (Araya) has referred to this as Slayer’s “love ballad”.
You’re welcome.
CRYPTS OF ETERNITY:
This kinda had that Show No Mercy vibe in spots…kinda like Metalstorm/Face The Slayer.
Definitely the “progressive” Slayer of old.
There was always something kinda mystical about this record to me.
It’s very visual. And the Tom SCREAM!!!!
HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES:
I think the best part of this song, personally is when it makes the transition back into Hell Awaits, thereby creating a “Loop” effect and making the album (or the Hell Awaits track specifically) go on forever…
Show Notes
(00:00): Tangentionally Related Metal Nerdery Item/Adam’s still on the Pasta of Souls World Tour with Milley/#pastatacos/Special Guest Co-Host! Mr. Eric Mixon/ Metal Nerdery Album Dive: SLAYER- Hell Awaits (and the Sophomore Jump from ‘Show No Mercy’)
(04:20): Hell Awaits vs God Hates Us All/Ways to make an album sound #eviler/How NOT to record drums/Released March 1985/37:11 in Length (and Width)/The “Secret” Hell Awaits Backwards Message (JOIN US!)/Sdrawkcab Stiawa Lleh/SU NIOJ!!
(08:36): The Slayer “imagery” (lyrically and musically darker and eviler)/#sophomorejump/The Most “Progressive” Slayer album Wait, WHAT!?/ www.thrashmetaliq.com (Hell Awaits factoids)/The “Magic” Albums/”My hair…”/JOIN US/Do you have the new Hell Awaits EIGHT TRACK?
(16:02): Production of Hell Awaits vs God Hates Us All/Matt’s last Slayer show (2016), w/ Death Angel and Anthrax at the Tabernacle/Eric’s last Slayer show (2018)/#dontdenythepowerofslayer
(21:12): The Tracks: Hell Awaits (#readthoselyrics #SlayerImagery #ItAwaitsBro)/The clarity of the lyrics on Reign in Blood vs Hell Awaits #itmakesthehellbetter #damnated
(28:06): Kill Again (and the progression towards “The Slayer Sound”)/At Dawn They Sleep (#EvilerThanTwilight)/*Haunting the Chapel (#BoneUs) *
(35:47): Praise of Death (more and more of that “Slayer Sound”) Now with #evilersolos (shhhhh)
(38:56): Necrophiliac (#norubberneeded)
(42:40): Crypts of Eternity (perhaps the most progressive Slayer song ever) and the evolution of their sound, from the first 2 albums through to the 3 “Magic” albums (and beyond)
(53:25): Hardening of the Arteries/Hell Awaits (Outro) #backshadowing/Metal Nerdery Patreon is ON!!! Patreon.com/MetalNerderyPodcast
HOME