Slayer

Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, Dave Lombardo, and Tom Araya. The band became known for a fast and aggressive style that placed it among the big four of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. The lineup later included Paul Bostaph on drums and Gary Holt on guitar; Holt initially joined as a touring member in 2011 and became a permanent member following Hanneman’s death in 2013. Drummer Jon Dette is a former member.

In the original lineup, King, Hanneman, and Araya contributed to the band’s lyrics, while King and Hanneman wrote the majority of the music. Slayer’s lyrics and album artwork address themes such as serial killers, occultism, terrorism, religion, fascism, racism, and war, leading to various controversies including album bans, delayed releases, lawsuits, and criticism from religious organizations. The band’s music has been cited as influential by numerous artists, and the 1986 album "Reign in Blood" is frequently regarded as one of the most impactful releases in thrash metal.

Slayer released twelve studio albums, three live albums, a box set, six music videos, two extended plays, and a cover album. Four studio albums received gold certification in the United States. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the band sold 5 million records in the United States between 1991 and 2013. Slayer received five Grammy Award nominations and won in 2007 for the song "Eyes of the Insane" and in 2008 for the song "Final Six," both from the album "Christ Illusion" released in 2006. The band disbanded in 2019 after completing a farewell tour, later reuniting for occasional performances beginning in 2024.

Studio albums Show No Mercy (1983) Hell Awaits (1985) Reign in Blood (1986) South of Heaven (1988) Seasons in the Abyss (1990) Divine Intervention (1994) Undisputed Attitude (1996) Diabolus in Musica (1998) God Hates Us All (2001) Christ Illusion (2006) World Painted Blood (2009) Repentless (2015)