... Seasons In The Abyss
Slayer are one of the most popular thrash metal bands around, never reaching the heights of bands like Metallica or even Megadeth, yet over 15 years after their first album they are still there plugging out the records. Seasons in the abyss marked the end of their ... Read review
Slayer are one of the most popular thrash metal bands around, never reaching the heights of bands like Metallica or even Megadeth, yet over 15 years after their first album they are still there plugging out the records. Seasons in the abyss marked the end of their more commercial releases, following on from the relatively accessible South of Heaven, Seasons, followed in the same ‘almost ... ...Mask and the title track Seasons in the Abyss mark a much more melodic, ‘tuneful’ Slayer, which didn’t go down to well with the aforementioned members of the fanbase but allowed their music to become more accessible and even receive airplay on MTV.
Called a sell-out album, Seasons in the Abyss spawned a single which was itself a multi-million dollar affair, filmed in the Egypt and with the express intention of receiving ... more
Slayer are: Tom Araya (vocals, bass); Jeff Hanneman, Kerry King (guitar); Dave Lombardo (drums).
Track Listing
1. War Ensemble 2. Blood Red 3. Spirit In Black 4. Expendable Youth 5. Dead Skin Mask 6. Hallowed Point 7. Skeletons Of Society 8. Temptation 9. Born Of Fire 10. Seasons In The Abyss
Slayer are one of the most popular thrash metal bands around, never reaching the heights of bands like Metallica or even Megadeth, yet over 15 years after their first album they are still there plugging out the records. Seasons in the abyss marked the end of their more commercial releases, following on from the relatively accessible South of Heaven, Seasons, followed in the same ‘almost commercial’ vein, although of course with the same hard edge. Tracks like War Ensemble harked back to the old days of balls out hardcore thrash. Ultra energetic and ultra violent, it is tracks like these which have led to Slayer amassing an army of ‘nutters’ amongst their fans. However, tracks like Dead Skin Mask and the title track Seasons in the Abyss mark a much more melodic, ‘tuneful’ Slayer, which didn’t go down to well with the aforementioned members of the fanbase but allowed their music to become more accessible and even receive airplay on MTV.
Called a sell-out album, Seasons in the Abyss spawned a single which was itself a multi-million dollar affair, filmed in the Egypt and with the express intention of receiving the aforementioned airplay which compounded the fan’s feelings. Perhaps as a result of the backlash, or maybe for personal musical reasons, Slayer’s follow-on albums have seen a return to their previous speed and brutality, which may have pleased their older fans, but marks a fast, brutal, hardcore style of thrash metal which is fast dying out.
Personally, of all the Slayer albums this has to be my second favourite behind the excellent South of Heaven, although for sheer energy Reign in Blood can not be beaten. Seasons in the Abyss has few weak links. From the rampant energy of War Ensemble through to the mysterious chugger of Seasons in the Abyss via the pure evil sound of Dead Skin Mask, every track has its merits although Skeletons of Society and Hallowed Point are a little ‘nothingy’ and Slayer’s musical style is certainly an acquired taste to say the least so its better to check out a couple of tracks first before you look into buying this album.
Advantages: american thrash at it's peak. Disadvantages: none
Oh what a record. It brings back so many memories hearing an album like this after so many years, and still finding it terrific. Actually nowadays Slayer is one of the few bands that I was listening in my era of metal devotions that not only I still can listen to, but furthermore make me realize that music is music after all. It can be good, it can be bad. End of the story.
Returning to our subject now, Slayer is considered by every metalhead that respects himself one of the pioneers of the thrash metal movement, that took place in the early 80's, along with bands like Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth. Their first two albums "Show no mercy" and "Hell awaits(what a title!)" are pure straightforward thrash metal with ultra fast tempos by the immature at the time Dave Lombardo and the obsession with the occult regarding the lyrics ...
Advantages: fast, brutal, Slayer at their finest Disadvantages: most won't like it
This album is awesome. Slayer live is a sonic assault which will grab you violently by the ears and shake you until your teeth rattle. This cacophoy of sound consists of the best Slayer tracks played before a live audience recorded whilst they were on tour. Tracks include Angel Of Death, SeasonsIn The Abyss and South Of Heaven to name but a few on this double album. For those fans of Slayer this album is a must have, for other thrash fans then this album is still a must have and for everyone else who doesn't like speed metal - run and hide - you won't like this one bit. ...
Advantages: Fantastic album with consistent tracks, good lyrics, very melodic guitar playing. Disadvantages: A bit poor production, other than that..I dunno.?
to Slayer's other works such as 'Reign in Blood', 'South of Heaven' and 'Seasonsin the Abyss' is that this album has a lot of melody which is great; the melodic solos are great as it 'gives it a break' after the pummelling of riffs. The riffs aren't thrash-y style riffs, they are very well presented with a healthy dose of NWOBHM but they are still catchy as heck. Tom Araya has a much more aggressive vocals than what was around at the time; for example Metallica's Hetfield and expressed their rawness/aggressiveness rather well. He really stretches out his his vocal range here; his high pitched screams are really good!
- Production -
The production of this album is a little muddy; though nothing comparable to Welcome to Hell by Venom, it doesn't detract from the album too much. The band had to record all this in just 8 hours ...
Product Information for "Seasons In The Abyss - Slayer" »
Product details
Title
Seasons In The Abyss
Performer
Slayer
Genre
Heavy Metal
Sub Genre
Speed / Thrash Metal
Release Date
18/03/2002
Recomended Retail Price
13.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1990
Label / Distributor
American/Universal / Universal Music
Engineer
Andy Wallace
Producer
Rick Rubin; Andy Wallace
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
731458679820
Catalogue Number
5867982
Additional notes
Album Notes
Slayer: Tom Araya (vocals, bass); Jeff Hanneman, Kerry King (guitar); Dave Lombardo (drums). Recorded at Hit City West, Hollywood Sound, California and Record Plant, Los Angeles, California. Slayer built a rabid following with faster-than-light thrash metal, eerie, disturbing lyrics, and bassist/singer Tom Araya's screamed vocals. 1986's REIGN IN BLOOD, a blinding metal classic that clocked in at below a half hour in length and was produced by Rick Rubin, put the band on the metal map. Although Slayer was a bunch of longhairs, it wasn't uncommon to see hardcore skinheads slamming away at the band's shows. But 1988's SOUTH OF HEAVEN alienated many of Slayer's punk fans, as the group slowed their speed metal to a Black Sabbath-like crawl. 1990's SEASONS IN THE ABYSS follows its predecessor's formula. The album was embraced by metal-heads everywhere, eventually earning Slayer its first gold-certified record. The furious opening "War Ensemble" is a throwback to Slayer's earlier speed metal direction, while the album-closing title track is a murky, swarming chunk of metal. Other standouts include the chilling "Dead Skin Mask," which dealt lyrically with notorious killer Ed Gein, "Blood Red," "Expendable Youth," "Hallowed Point," and "Skeletons of Society." For fans of extreme-metal, it doesn't get any better than Slayer's SEASONS IN THE ABYSS.
Album Reviews
Entertainment Weekly (11/9/90) - "..Very heavy metal of the thrash kind.." - Rating: B+
Titles on disc 1
1.
War Ensemble
2.
Blood Red
3.
Spirit In Black
4.
Expendable Youth
5.
Dead Skin Mask
6.
Hallowed Point
7.
Skeletons Of Society
8.
Temptation
9.
Born Of Fire
10.
Seasons In The Abyss
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
28/09/2000
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