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Class 6(66)

Slayer: Hell awaits

17/06/11  ||  InquisitorGeneralis

Introduction

Inquisitorgeneralis: If there is a hell, it is certainly waiting for most of us who write and/or troll around here at Global Domination. In that spirit of inevitable damnation, it is high time that we covered one of Slayer’s (I think) more overlooked records, the mighty “Hell Awaits”. Joining you in this netherwordly descent are yours truly and the mighty master of all musical insanity, Khylsty. Think of us as Vergil and Dante but with more writing talent and bigger dicks. Anywho, “Hell Awaits” is a beast of a record that sits right at the crossroads of Slayer’s early NWOBHM influences and the more aggressive thrash that would come to define the band’s sound and legacy. This is the first that that me and the K-Man have reached across oceans, time, and space to double penetrate a Class6(66) entry. I’m excited, and scared…

Khlysty: Fear not, my American friend, for the secrets and mysteries of Hell are but an open book to me. I mean, all of my girlfriends, up till now, have been bona fide nutcases, so I know what I’m talking about. Anyway, to deal with the matter at hand, yes, “Hell Awaits” has been Slayer’s first endeavor into lands unknown and paths uncharted. Some people call this record “Slayer’s prog side”, but do they know anything? Pah!!! They know shit! “Hell Awaits” is but Slayer’s first big step towards awesomeness and it’s nothing if not fitting that a heretic (thass me…) and a deliverer of faith (thass iGene, you MAGGOTS!!!) come forward and give you the testimonial of this awe-inspiring record (plus, I really liked this thingy ‘bout Dante and Virgil and the big dicks…). O, iGene, tell the unbelievers the truth, before we dive head-first into the bowels of the Unspeakable One!

Ibelieve: It’s true; we are going right up Satan’s anus on this one. “Hell Awaits” definitely stands apart from other Slayer releases and is a real surprise if you are expecting the straightforward brutality of “Reign in Blood”. I am slowly becoming a bigger Slayer fan each day because of records like this one and “Show No Mercy” which seem to get less attention than the big boys from the late 80’s. I stroke my boner to “Seasons in the Abyss” and “South of Heaven”, don’t get me wrong. They are probably Slayer’s most complete, well-done albums. But there is something special about “Hell Awaits”, and me and Khlysty are going to make you believe, bitches.

Songwriting

Khlystoris Okay, now that the niceties are done and over, let’s move to the meat of this review. And, boy, what a rotten, fire-and-brimstone-flavored piece is it! See, remember how the believer talked about crossroads in the beginning? Well, Slayer most certainly sold their souls to the Dark One, ‘cause “Hell Awaits” is where these guys found for the first time their true, frightening voice. Gone are the NWOBHMisms or the Judaspriest-isms, replaced by songs that were complex, super-dark and super-intense. Listening to this record, I always get the feeling that I’m glimpsing something huge and unspeakable and utterly evil raising from the darkest pits for the first time in millennia.

Inside the labia: Word, K-man, word to Big fucken Bird. Just listen to “At dawn they sleep” and “Praise of death” and you will see (hear) that Slayer put some effort into crafting interesting, varied tunes. Great riffs, big breakdowns, general thrashy goodness are all served up on “Hell Awaits”. Plus, the intro to the title, opening track is evil incarnate. That song, after the boner-inducing intro, gives you a preview of the faster, more intense thrashing that Slayer would take to worldwide popularity on their next release, “Reign in Blood.”

Khlystorgasm And let’s not forget how each song develops here: it’s not just fast-parts-slower-parts-fast-parts, but everything seems to be calculated to create maximum impact, right? Look at how they arrange each song, how everything emanates this sense of evil and harmful intent, how Tom seems to have grown into a totally demented beast, or how the guitars are weaving those trademarked Slayer riffs. I really don’t know what happened to those guys between the first record and this crazy mofo, but it sure seems huge. Okay, Virgil, cap things off at the songwriting dept, rate the bastard and let’s go to the other delectable pieces…

In the face: I am going to go with a 9 here, because the songs are pretty fucken good and no other Slayer album sounds quite like this one.

Production

Interlude: It takes a little while for the production of “Hell Awaits” to grow on you, but once it does it’s clear skies and breast milk, baby. I would like a bit more punch from the drums but I am used to more modern, bludgeon-your-skull sounding drums so I can’t be too critical of something from ’85. The guitars sound good, especially the bass, and Tom’s vocals don’t overwhelm anything. The sound is just grainy and raw enough to be trve, but good enough to not sound like shit…or Venom. Khyjelly? Your thoughts and a score?

Khyllasoundz: Hmmm, I find the production job, ehm, interesting, if you catch my drift. I hear the bass and vocals a bit too much upfront, with the guitars and drums pushed a bit in the background. Still, I would be unfair if I said that it’s bad. As you told before, it takes some time to get used to it, but, otherwise, it’s strong and pretty powerful and lets the performances shine through and through, baby. So, let’s go for an 8 and be done with the fucker

Guitars

Khlystynporta: Yeah, YEAH, YEAH! Riffs, baby, riffs and more riffs. Chunky riffs, razor-sharp riffs, bludgeon-ya-to-pulp riffs, slow riffs, fast riffs, daemonic riffs, satanic riffs… and the usual cat-in-the-blender leads, either by King or by Hanneman. But, fuck me with a golden dildo if these duders don’t know how to lay down the law for extreme thrash riffing and how to make everything fucking work. These guys were the real McCoy back then, when it came to sharp guitar work, getting better and better in each record and this time around, what with the songs being pretty long and convoluted, they really throw the whole bag to the listener. Am I right, or am I right? Tell me more, iGene, tell me more!

Inthecrapper: The guitar work on here truly is awesome. The breakdown/tempo-change riffs on “At dawn they sleep” and “Praise of death” are perfection. The speedier shit is also fantastic. Bands today just can’t recreate that evil, crunchy feel that thrash guitar players like King and Hanneman were able to create back in ze day. This is prime guitar goodness. Fuck, if “Hell awaits” the song doesn’t convince you of that, you’re hopeless. I’m willing to go for a 9.5 here Kukkulysty. Are you willing to go that far? ARE YOU????

Klystmister: Not only am I ready to go the extra mile, but I would have accepted nothing less from your inquisitive generality. But now bro, you gotta take those mofos home. You gotta tell ‘em what happened to little Tommy’s voice between “Show No Mercy” and this fucker. And you gotta do it eloquently. Save no words, bro, no words at all…

Vocals

I see the world, old: What happened to Araya’s voice? It grew some pubic hair, started listening to Motorhead, blew coke for the first time, and had sex with a trannie hooker. Translation: it grew the fuck up. The evil Tom that we used to love and now love the bash on (fuck us right?) was born on “Hell Awaits”; born to bring screaming, growling pain to all who only listen to falsetto singing and hair-metal crooning. The 80’s needed this man and this band. Thank fucking Satan we got them…

Khleelhaul: That’s it; you nailed the fucker in the head! Tom GREW UP and the more he grew the more daemonic he became. “Hell Awaits” finds him losing every last increment of adolescence and going head-first into hate-and-violence adulthood. And, boy, is he impressive! He still has some trouble shouting all the words in the lyrics in the faster parts of the songs, but, fuck, is he commanding! Listening to him, you can almost feel the fires of Hell burning in his throat and dark, acrid smoke coming outta his mouth with every enunciation. So, what say you that we brand his performance with a fokken 9? D’ ya think that he deserves it?…

IiiiiiigggggG: Of course he deserves it, just like you and I deserve a satanic orgy with blood-covered virgins for our efforts on this review. I’m fine with that sexy 9.

Bass

Inyourfacebass: Not only did Tom Araya’s voice grow a sack on “Hell Awaits”, his bass-playing nutted up to. Both in terms of sound and style, things in the bass department are greatly improved from “Show No Mercy”.

Khlystoparathyro: Y’know, I think that it’s the production thingy that I mentioned earlier that allows us to listen to his bass-playing so clearly here: it’s too upfront, not to be able to notice it! And his bass-playing is whamo-fantasmo: he doesn’t just go for the root-notes of each riff, but really plays his little ass out, with note-runs and flourishes here and there. It’s fucking amazing and it’s to Tom’s credit that he holds both the forts of singing and bass so admirably. Can I also say that, of all the early thrash bands, Slayer is the one that gives bass equal importance with the guitars? What say you ‘bout this? And why don’t you also rate the fucker?

Instantmashedpotatoes: I say an 9 because you gotta love a metal record where the bass does its own thing and doesn’t simple suck the drums’ and/or guitars’ dicks. Speaking of sucking the drums’ dick, gargle up with whatever you Greeks use for mouthwash (feta cheese brine water? Sardine piss? lamb juice?) and take us to percussion heaven! I know I am reaching for the Scope…

Drums

Khlosertothebassdrum: Fuck, feta cheese gargle… UGH!!! Anyway, what can I really write about Dave “Da King” Lombardo? That he’s fast? That’s he’s creative? That he’s more precise than a fucken Swiss watch? That he’s powerful? That he’s the king of groove? That he can do the fast, the slow, the in-between? That he can walk on water and part the Red Sea? That he fucks angels for breakfast and eats saints for supper and devours daemons for dinner? What?…

Insideofthesnare: I’d like an angel omlette with a side of seraphim sausage please! Here’s what I can say about Mr. Lombombardier; he fucken rules. Just like Tommy McBass, Dave stepped up his game considerably for “Hell Awaits”. His footwork is impressive, he thrashes with intensity, and he pumps out some impressive breakdowns and tempo changes for 1985. See “At Dawn they Sleep” and “Crypts of Eternity” for examples of what the fuck I’m talking about. I like this version of Dave that gives as much effort and focus to teh groovy, slower sections as to the faster ones. I’d go with another 9 here, but I’m going to give the final call to you, booboo…

Khyllingunderthefloortom: If it wasn’t for what followed “Hell Awaits”, I’d have given Lombardissimo a 10 here, as he displays a lot of his trademarked qualities full-on. But, I cannot but agree with you. A 9 seems appropriate, seeing as what came afterwards was even more awesome and killer.

Lyrics

KhalloftheKthulhu: “sunioj…sunioj…sunioj…sunioj…sunionj…… Welcome back…” Uuuuuuh, got a bit carried away here. So, yeah, the lyrics… What to say ‘bout ‘em? They’re about Hell -physical and spiritual torment. They ain’t cheesy, not even a bit. Actually, they seem so, ehm, sober, that one starts to get the uneasy feeling that these Slayers knew first-hand what they were talking about. Want a sample? How about this: “Driven by the instinct of centuries of horror/Implanted along the brain of the sickening parasite/Linked together by one trait/The Hell-filled need to kill… kill… kill… kill… KILL”. Brrrrrrr…

InR’ylleh: Welcome Home! Oh yeah, the lyrics on here are pure, Satanic bliss. Slayer quickly became the champions of this type of stuff, rapidly eclipsing other bands like Venom and Mercyful Fate in the evil department. The following verse from “Necrophiliac” is all your need to read…

I Feel The Urge The Growing Need
To Fuck This Sinful Corpse
My Tasks Complete The Bitches Soul
Lies Raped In Demonic Lust

I’d like to leave a few bitches’ souls lying around in demonic lust, that’s for sure. The lyrics get a 10, and that’s that.

Cover art

Inthepicture: The cover of “Hell Awaits” is a picture of, you guessed it, HELL! See the tormented souls as they descent into an eternity of sucking Satan’s cock. The demons and fire look pretty fucking evil, but the screaming face in the foreground looks like it was drawn by 5th grader. Either way, it is still some good shit.

Khlystercolours: Hey, iGene, is it my imagination, or there’s a daemon, up on the right side of the cover that holds his dick?… Whaddafuck were Slayer thinkin’, puttin’ up a picher of a cock-holding daemon over there?… Anyway, I agree that the art is not the best thing since scrotal infusions, but, hey, it’s daemonic, it’s haellish, it’s thraeshing-maed… What say you we give it a really high 7,5?

Intheshade: 7.5 sounds perfect. Speaking of perfect…

Logo

Khlosethedoorofhell: Who the fuck would want to rate Slayer’s logo? I mean, it just… is. It represents the band perfectly. What the fuck more would anyone want?

Intothefire: Best. Metal. Logo. Ever. 10 And that’s that.

Booklet

Iaintgotit: I don’t have it, do you have it K-man? Buried away deep in your metal librarium?

Khardboard: I only have a used vinyl copy of said record, bought, like, a jillion years ago. Did vinyls have booklets? Ummmmm, no…

Overall and ending rant

Khlyslayer: I think that I’ve already said much too much about “Hell Awaits”, so I will only add this: if one claims that he listens to metal and doesn’t have it in his collection, one’s a fucken broom. So, iGene, I want you sum things up, rate the sumbitch and close the ceremonies.

Inquisitorslayeralis: This truly is a standout record in the Slayer discography of satanic awesomeness. Every time you listen to a long, epic Slayer tune from “South of Heaven” or “Seasons of the Abyss”, know that that style was born here. While this record’s immediate successor, Reign in Blood” gets most of the glory, “Hell Awaits” is some sweet, sweet stuff. If you like Slayer but don’t have it, shame on you. If you don’t like Slayer…fucking kill yourself. Oh, and just in case you are not up to snuff on your canon law suicide is guaranteed eternal damnation. So, either way, “Hell Awaits” your punk ass.

9

  • Information
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Metal Blade
  • Website: www.slayer.net
  • Band
  • Tom Araya: vocals, bass
  • Kerry King: guitars
  • Jeff Hanneman: guitars
  • Dave Lombardo: drums
  • Tracklist
  • 01. Hell Awaits
  • 02. Kill Again
  • 03. At Dawn They Sleep
  • 04. Praise of Death
  • 05. Necrophiliac
  • 06. Crypts of Eternity
  • 07. Hardening of the Arteries

Class 6(66) -reviews

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