SLAYER'S "SOUTH OF HEAVEN"

Slayer's South of Heaven"(1988). This the first really heavy metal album that I bought as a teenager. Even to this day, twenty one years later, it holds up to repeated listenings and never sounds old. In fact, "South of Heaven", along with White Zombie's "La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1" is my favorite heavy metal album of all time. Slowing things down a tad after their speed metal masterpiece "Reign In Blood"(1986), Slayer lets things breathe a little more on "South of Heaven". Evil, pervasive grooves abound courtesy of the excellent drumming of Dave Lombardo, and there is a bit more melody than on their previous efforts. There is an unrelenting sinister vibe on this album that never lets up. Combine that with the insane, atonal, hellish trademark Kerry King/Jeff Hanneman guitar solos and insane, shock filled lyrics & vocals of Tom Araya that are much more intelligible than on previous works and you have the perfect metal album. This is the way metal should be: unpretentious and chock full of evil grooves.

Here's the opening track "South of Heaven"...


...and here's "Behind the Crooked Cross".