After 37 years of recording and performing, Slayer announced in January 2018 that they would embark on their final world tour, which will reportedly come to an end in 2019. Between 19, the band sold five million albums in the United States. The band has received five Grammy Award nominations, winning one in 2007 for the song "Eyes of the Insane" and one in 2008 for the song "Final Six", both of which were from the album Christ Illusion (2006). Four of the band's studio albums have received gold certification in the United States. Slayer has released twelve studio albums, two live albums, a box set, six music videos, two extended plays and a cover album. However, its music has been highly influential, often being cited by many bands as an influence musically, visually and lyrically the band's third album, Reign in Blood (1986), was described as one of the heaviest and most influential thrash metal albums.
The band's lyrics and album art, which cover topics such as murder, serial killers, necrophilia, torture, genocide, human experimentation, Satanism, hate crimes, terrorism, religion, antireligion, Nazism and war, have generated album bans, delays, lawsuits and criticism from religious groups and factions of the general public. In the original line-up, King, Hanneman and Araya contributed to the band's lyrics, and all of the band's music was written by King and Hanneman. Hanneman and drummers Dave Lombardo and Jon Dette are former members of the band. Slayer's current lineup comprises King, Araya, drummer Paul Bostaph and guitarist Gary Holt. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style made them one of the founding "big four" bands of thrash metal, alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. The band was formed in 1981 by vocalist and bassist Tom Araya and guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman. Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. Originally appears on Seasons in the Abyss.Slayer - Studio discography (1983 - 2015) Has a different mix compared to the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock release. Originally appears on the special edition of Christ Illusion. Originally appears on Divine Intervention. Originally Appears on Seasons in the Abyss. Later appears on Soundtrack to the Apocalypse. Later appears on Soundtrack to the Apocalypse.Ĭollaboration with Atari Teenage Riot. Medley and Covered of songs by The Exploited. Later appears on Soundtrack to the Apocalypse.Ĭollaboration with Ice-T. Originally appears on Haunting the Chapel. The Repentless Killogy (Live at the Forum in Inglewood, CA) "-" denotes a release that did not chart. Slayer is considered one of the "big four" of thrash metal along with Anthrax, Metallica and Megadeth and has earned six gold certifications and one multi-platinum plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Slayer sold 5 million copies in the United States from 1991 to 2013, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and over 20 million worldwide. Christ Illusion (2006) was Slayer's most successful effort, debuting at number five in the US and winning two Grammy Awards. Bostaph left the band due to an elbow injury and was replaced by former member Lombardo. Diabolus in Musica (1998) was criticized for its nu metal traits, while God Hates Us All (2001) created controversy for its graphic artwork. ġ994's Divine Intervention, the first album to feature Bostaph, peaked at number eight in the US, the band's best chart performance at the time. After the album was released, Lombardo departed Slayer and was replaced by Paul Bostaph. After South of Heaven (1988), Slayer signed to Rubin's new label, Def American, and released Seasons in the Abyss (1990). The album helped Slayer break into the Billboard 200 for the first time, peaking at number 94. The band was then signed to Def Jam Recordings by Rick Rubin, who produced Reign in Blood (1986). Slayer's first two albums, Show No Mercy (1983) and Hell Awaits (1985), which were released on Metal Blade Records, did not chart in the United States. Slayer was an American thrash metal band formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, who recruited vocalist and bassist Tom Araya, and drummer Dave Lombardo.