Thrash metal act Slayer, which comprises of Kerry King (guitar), Tom Araya (vocal, bass), Jeff Hanneman (guitar) and Dave Lombardo (drums), came into being about 25 years ago, and has banged out album after album of very dark and menacing songs. Often credited as one of the pioneers of American thrash metal, and named as one of the “Big Four” of thrash metal bands (alongside Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth), Slayer is going to give fans a big treat as they arrive for a destructive concert (or so we hope) come Oct 13.
Slayer has often raised controversy with their lyrics. Their songs dabble with subjects such as serial killers, the Holocaust, war, hell and Satan, and conservatives have often attacked the band for being obscene, and having racist and Nazi sympathies. Slayer’s latest offering Christ Illusion (which has been hailed by some as a sequel to the classic Reign In Blood) is not spared from controversy either. One of its tracks “Jihad,” which looks at the September 11 terrorist attacks from a terrorist’s standpoint, has raised much anger and debate. However, it seems, the darker their songs, the more crowds their draw, as evident from a loyal following who mosh wildly (and leave with bruises) at their every concert.
Aggressive and heavy, Slayer’s music has played a huge role in influencing several notable bands today. Slipknot, Mayhem, Emperor, Sepultura and Killswitch Engage to name a few. This act is definitely worth catching if you are into metal.
If you are in the mood for some “evil” music as some will call it, this concert will be the one to catch. Besides an aural onslaught, it just might be a visual indulgence as well. After all, who can forget how fake blood rained down on Slayer as they performed “Raining Blood” in one of their concerts in 2003?
