Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, who recruited vocalist and bassist Tom Araya, and drummer Dave Lombardo.[1] Slayer's first two albums, Show No Mercy (1983) and Hell Awaits (1985), which were released on Metal Blade Records, did not chart in the United States.[2] The band was then signed to Def Jam Recordings by Rick Rubin, who produced Reign in Blood (1986). The album helped Slayer break into the Billboard 200 for the first time, peaking at number 94.[2] After South of Heaven (1988), Slayer signed to Rubin's new label, Def American, and released Seasons in the Abyss (1990). After the album was released, Lombardo departed Slayer and was replaced by Paul Bostaph.[3]

Quick Facts Studio albums, EPs ...
Slayer discography
Thumb
Slayer at the Fields of Rock in 2007
Studio albums12
EPs2
Live albums4
Singles16
Video albums4
Music videos14
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1994's Divine Intervention, the first album to feature Bostaph, peaked at number eight in the US, the band's best chart performance at the time.[2] Diabolus in Musica (1998) was criticized for its nu metal traits,[4][5] while God Hates Us All (2001) created controversy for its graphic artwork.[6] Bostaph left the band due to an injury and was replaced by former member Lombardo. Christ Illusion (2006) was Slayer's most successful effort, debuting at number five in the US and winning two Grammy Awards.[2][7] Slayer sold 5 million copies in the United States from 1991 to 2013, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and over 20 million worldwide.[8][9] Slayer is considered one of the "big four" of thrash metal along with Anthrax, Metallica and Megadeth and has earned six gold certifications and one multi-platinum plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[10][11]

Albums

Studio albums

More information Title, Album details ...
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
US
[2]
AUS
[12]
AUT
[13]
DEN
[14]
FIN
[15][16]
FRA
[17][18]
GER
[19]
NLD
[20]
NZ
[21]
SWE
[22]
UK
[23]
Show No Mercy 44
Hell Awaits
  • Released: April 8, 1985[24]
  • Label: Metal Blade
41
Reign in Blood
  • Released: October 20, 1986
  • Label: Def Jam
94 47
South of Heaven
  • Released: July 5, 1988
  • Label: Def Jam
57 53 11 23 31 50 25
Seasons in the Abyss 40 58 29 12 19 69 47 18
Divine Intervention
  • Released: September 27, 1994
  • Label: American
8 27 22 4 19 18 31 20 10 15
Undisputed Attitude
  • Released: May 28, 1996
  • Label: American
34 16 43 27 43 45 33 22 20 31
Diabolus in Musica
  • Released: June 9, 1998
  • Label: American
31 35 40 18 23 32 52 15 29 27
God Hates Us All
  • Released: September 11, 2001
  • Label: American
28 15 31 32 12 25 9 30 35 18 31
Christ Illusion
  • Released: August 8, 2006
  • Label: American
5 9 6 14 2 52 2 8 10 4 23
World Painted Blood
  • Released: November 3, 2009
  • Label: American
12 9 13 21 12 28 7 15 16 21 41
Repentless 4 3 6 9 3 7 1 2 8 5 11
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.
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Live albums

More information Title, Album details ...
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[2]
AUS
[12]
AUT
[13]
FIN
[15]
FRA
[17]
GER
[19]
NLD
[20]
UK
[23]
Live Undead
  • Released: November 16, 1984
  • Label: Metal Blade
77
Decade of Aggression
  • Released: October 22, 1991
  • Label: American
55 83 35 79 29
The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria
(with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax)
71 31 59 75
The Repentless Killogy (Live at the Forum in Inglewood, CA) 36 49 91 16
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.
Close

EPs

More information Title, EP details ...
Title EP details Peak chart positions
DEN
[14]
FIN
[15]
SWE
[22]
SWI
[33]
Haunting the Chapel
  • Released: June 1984
  • Label: Metal Blade
Eternal Pyre
  • Released: June 6, 2006
  • Label: American
3 2 48 88
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.
Close

Box sets

More information Title, Album details ...
Title Album details
Soundtrack to the Apocalypse
  • Released: November 25, 2003
  • Label: American
The Vinyl Conflict
  • Released: October 12, 2010
  • Label: American, Sony
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Singles

More information Song, Year ...
Song Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Sales

[34]
DEN
[14]
UK
[23]
"Black Magic" 1983 Show No Mercy
"Hell Awaits" 1985 Hell Awaits
"Raining Blood" 1986 Reign in Blood
"Angel of Death"
"Postmortem"
"Necrophobic"
"Criminally Insane" 1987 64
"South of Heaven" 1988 South of Heaven
"Mandatory Suicide"
"War Ensemble" 1990 Seasons in the Abyss
"Dead Skin Mask"
"Spirit in Black"
"Seasons in the Abyss" 1991 51
"Dittohead" 1994 Divine Intervention
"Serenity in Murder" 1995 50
"I Hate You" 1996 Undisputed Attitude
"Stain of Mind" 1998 Diabolus in Musica
"Bitter Peace"
"Bloodline" 2001 God Hates Us All
"Disciple"
"God Send Death"
"Cult" 2006 Christ Illusion
"Eyes of the Insane" 15 97
"Jihad"
"Final Six" 2007
"Psychopathy Red" 2009 World Painted Blood
"Hate Worldwide" 2
"World Painted Blood" 2010 14
"Implode" 2014 Repentless
"When the Stillness Comes" 2015
"Repentless" 2
"You Against You" 2016
"Pride in Prejudice"
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.
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Other appearances

More information Song, Year ...
Song Year Album Comments
"Captor of Sin" 1986 River's Edge soundtrack Originally appears on Haunting the Chapel.
"Tormentor" Originally appears on Show No Mercy.
"Evil Has No Boundaries" Originally appears on Show No Mercy.
"Die by the Sword" Originally appears on Show No Mercy.
"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" 1987 Less than Zero soundtrack Iron Butterfly cover. Later appears on Soundtrack to the Apocalypse.
"Angel of Death" 1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch soundtrack Originally appears on Reign in Blood.
"Disorder" 1993 Judgement Night soundtrack Collaboration with Ice-T. Medley and Covered of songs by The Exploited. Later appears on Soundtrack to the Apocalypse.
"Epidemic" 1996 The Perfect Woman soundtrack Originally appears on Reign in Blood.
"No Remorse (I Wanna Die)" 1997 Spawn: The Album Collaboration with Atari Teenage Riot. Later appears on Soundtrack to the Apocalypse.
"Human Disease" 1998 Bride of Chucky soundtrack Later appears on Soundtrack to the Apocalypse.
"Here Comes the Pain" 1999 WCW Mayhem: The Music Appears on God Hates Us All.
"Hand of Doom" 2000 Nativity in Black II Black Sabbath cover.
"Spirit in Black" Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 Originally Appears on Seasons in the Abyss.
"Bloodline" Dracula 2000 soundtrack Later appears on God Hates Us All.
"Angel of Death" Mrs. Death 2: Hells Fury soundtrack Originally appears on Reign in Blood
"Born to Be Wild" 2002 NASCAR: Crank It Up Steppenwolf cover.
"Angel of Death" Jackass: The Movie soundtrack Originally appears on Reign in Blood.
"Divine Intervention" 2003 Haggard: The Movie soundtrack Originally appears on Divine Intervention.
"Warzone" 2004 UFC: Ultimate Beat Downs, Vol. 1 Originally appears on God Hates Us All.
"Spill the Blood" 2006 Jackass Number Two soundtrack Originally appears on South of Heaven.
"Eyes of the Insane" Saw III soundtrack Originally appears on Christ Illusion.
"Raining Blood" 2007 Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock Originally appears on Reign in Blood.
"Raining Blood" Skate Originally appears on Reign in Blood.
"Final Six" 2008 Punisher: War Zone soundtrack Originally appears on the special edition of Christ Illusion.
"Raining Blood" 2009 Guitar Hero Smash Hits Originally appears on Reign in Blood. Has a different mix compared to the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock release.
"War Ensemble" Guitar Hero: Metallica Originally appears on Seasons in the Abyss.
"Chemical Warfare" 2010 Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Originally appears on Haunting the Chapel.
"War Ensemble" 2013 Rocksmith 2014 Originally appears on Seasons in the Abyss.
"Angel of Death" 2015 Originally appears on Reign in Blood.
"Raining Blood" Originally appears on Reign in Blood.
"South of Heaven" Originally appears on South of Heaven.
"Seasons in the Abyss" Originally appears on Seasons in the Abyss.
"Dead Skin Mask" Originally appears on Seasons in the Abyss.
"Angel of Death" 2019 Rock Band 4 DLC Originally appears on Reign in Blood.
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Videos

Music videos

More information Song, Year ...
Song Year Director Album
"War Ensemble" 1990 Seasons In The Abyss
"Seasons in the Abyss" 1991 Di Puglia Gerard[35]
"Serenity in Murder" 1994 Jon Reiss[36][37] Divine Intervention
"Dittohead"
"I Hate You" 1996 Undisputed Attitude
"Stain of Mind" 1998 Diabolus In Musica
"Bloodline" 2001 Evan Bernard[38] God Hates Us All
"Eyes of the Insane" 2006 Tony Petrossian[39] Christ Illusion
"Beauty Through Order" 2010 Ben Hibon[40] World Painted Blood
"World Painted Blood" Mark Brooks[41]
"Repentless" 2015 BJ Mcdonnell[42] Repentless
"You Against You" 2016
"Pride In Prejudice"
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Video albums

More information Title, Album details ...
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
Video

[43][44]
AUS
[45]
AUT
[46]
FIN
[47][48][49][50]
GER
[19]
JPN
[51]
NLD
[52]
NZ
[53]
SWI
[54]
UK
[55]
Live Intrusion
  • Released: October 31, 1995
  • Label: American
3
War at the Warfield
  • Released: July 29, 2003
  • Label: American
3 2 58
Still Reigning
  • Released: October 26, 2004
  • Label: American
7 7
The Unholy Alliance Live
(with Lamb of God, Mastodon,
Children of Bodom, and Thine Eyes Bleed)
  • Released: October 30, 2007
  • Label: American
The Big 4 Live From Sofia, Bulgaria
(with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax)
  • Released: October 15, 2010
  • Label: Universal
1 1 1 1 4 6 7 1 3 1
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.
Close

References

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