Show No Mercy - Slayer

.../> 9. Crionics
10. Show No Mercy

Evil Has No Boundaries
===================
The album opener and what a cracker to set us going. The pace and intensity of this song intice the listener. The amateur side is shown also as you can hear Kerry Kings guitar when it's just about to come in, but this aside it's a classic song. The chorus has Hanneman and King belting out "Evil!" in the background which adds ...
...– 10/10

Show No Mercy
============
The title and final track on the album and it’s a great way to finish us off. Dave Lombardo kicks us off with a mini drum solo before a wave of amazingly speedy palm muting on the top E string can be heard and felt a mile away. The chorus does not slow us down and sounds very familiar to the main riff from Motorbreath which was on Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All, also released in the same year. ... more

It's 1983, Metallica have caused a wave with their Demos and Thrash Metal is starting up. A band called Slayer are covering Judas Priest songs in small clubs until owner of Metal Blade owner Brian Slagel offers them the chance to record a song on his upcoming Metal Massacre compilation. This happens and Slayer are officially born...

Now, many consider Reign In Blood to be Slayers crowning moment, but I don't agree with this statement. I'd probably shove Reign In Blood as their 3rd, maybe 4th best album. You also have to understand in 1983 there was no Extreme music being played, Venom were the nearest to extreme metal at this time and their influences can be seen within this album. I'd call this the opening gates of Thrash alongside Metallica's Kill 'Em All and Anthrax's Fistful of Metal. Alrighty lets get the ball rolling! Slayer were and still are...

Tom Araya - Vox & Bass
Kerry King - Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Jeff Hanneman - Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Dave Lombardo - Drums.

1. Evil Has No Boundaries
2. The Antichrist
3. Die By The Sword
4. Fight Till Death
5. Metal Storm/Face The Slayer
6. Black Magic
7. Tormentor
8. The Final Command
9. Crionics
10. Show No Mercy

Evil Has No Boundaries
===================
The album opener and what a cracker to set us going. The pace and intensity of this song intice the listener. The amateur side is shown also as you can hear Kerry Kings guitar when it's just about to come in, but this aside it's a classic song. The chorus has Hanneman and King belting out "Evil!" in the background which adds to the atmosphere and Dave Lombardo pumping in the double bass drumming. The youthful duo of King and Hanneman is shown during the solos as they're a speedfest of Guitar wankery. A return to the opening riff ends the song on a high note..

Rating - 8/10

The Antichrist
============
One of the fastest Slayer riffs grace this track, coming in at 237bpm, which is quite impressive. Lombardo’s consistent drumming keeps this track in order and Jeff and Kerry do the rest. Arayas vocals reach a pitch hardly seen in metal half way into this song, which just adds to the madness of the track. The solo is a usual Slayer one, fast and aggressive with no concern for the listener. One of Slayers early classics from the vault.

Rating - 9/10

Slayer - Die By The Sword
=====================
Possibly the only song of this album that Slayer play live which is a shame. It is a ripper of a song though. Again Lombardos drumming is not complex but keeps the beat of the song going. The opening riff knocks your head off and the song is ever changing keeping the listener happy for the duration. The breakdowns are put in exactly the right places and the tempo changes from fast to midpaced are ever prevailant and well worked in this song. My second fave song off the album.

Rating - 10/10

Fight Till Death
=============
Not my fave song from the Slayer vault but still a listenable one. This one kicks off with an intro solo and then the somewhat subdued Guitar of Jeff Hanneman enters the fold. This is a really repetitive song and the chorus is exactly the same as the opening solo. The main solo is the only thing that really saves this song. Tom shouts "To Reign In Hell!" and then the madness starts. Very Reign in Blood-esque solos, whilst not being to wanky. Middle of the bar song.

Rating - 6/10

Metal Storm/Face The Slayer
=======================
Very atmospheric entrance to this song, which covers the Metal Storm instrumental opening before Face The Slayer kicks you in the teeth. Some Natural Harmonics can be heard in the background before a catchy ass riff hits home, carrying on the drums stop whilst another catchy riff is put in place. Arayas Halford like screams can be heard in parts of this song. The soloing sounds like a joint effort and another dubbed Rhythm guitar is heard in the background. The songs penultimate effort sees another riff change and is finaled with the opening instrumental.

Rating - 9/10

Tormentor
========
The best track on the album and my favourite Slayer track of all time, just ahead of Captor of Sin and Chemical Warfare. Tormentor starts off nice and slow paced building up to the main riff which picks up the speed, whilst remaining at a mid-tempo pace. The chorus is a classic affair, the way Araya sings is very catchy and sing along styled, similar to say an Iron Maiden chorus. The Guitaring in the chorus is also great with Natural Harmonics used very well and constant Palm Muting and riff changes. Arayas vocals during the verse is very evil sounding, which wasn’t the thing to do in 1983. A King solo hits us at 2:15 after another Araya blood curdling scream. Hannemans solo is near the end and finishes out the song.

Rating – 10/10 – Pure genius!

The Final Command
===============
Jeff states that Punk was his main influence back in those days and it can be seen in this song. Almost a Bad Brains type affair with tremelo picking galore and a consistant and pacy drum beat. This is the shortest song on the album coming in at 2:32 and is a constant kick in the teeth from the start. The song honestly doesn’t slow down from what I can see, no breakdown, just pure speed and aggression. Again this song is finished with a high pitched Araya shouting “Commandddddd!”.

Rating – 8/10

Crionics
======
Another one of my personal favourites. I actually saw a live recording of this from 1983 when Jeff was wearing Pink spandex and manages to make the song last for around 10 minutes. This again is a well put together song, which steers away from the norm. The usual verse, chorus, verse, chorus, solo, verse is not the way this song is put across. Several changes and suprising solos can be heard in this track and it’s all the more impressive for that. Kings use of the whammy bar can be heard from this song something he overused later on in his career. All in all, one of the top 10 Slayer songs.

Rating – 10/10

Show No Mercy
============
The title and final track on the album and it’s a great way to finish us off. Dave Lombardo kicks us off with a mini drum solo before a wave of amazingly speedy palm muting on the top E string can be heard and felt a mile away. The chorus does not slow us down and sounds very familiar to the main riff from Motorbreath which was on Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All, also released in the same year. The way Araya sings in this has become a trademark of his now. Seemingly singing at an impossible pacy rate, trying to keep up with Hanneman and King during the verse. Again, Show No Mercy is like The Final Command and doesn’t let the listener up for air during the song. The album finishes out in a blurry of aggression and feedback.

Rating – 9/10

Like I said, this album was not typical for 1983 and was perhaps the first aggressive Metal release barring perhaps Welcome to Hell by Venom and Melissa by King Diamond. Yes, these were great releases but Slayer took the extreme to the next level and Show No Mercy was created.

It’ll be a tough job finding this in a record store if you live in England as I never found it there. Your best bet is online from Amazon or a simular online shopping organization. Cheers for reading :o)
 

...less