Slayer - Live at Wacken 2014

Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park , California , formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King . [ 1 ] Slayer gained notoriety from 1986 , with the album Reign in Blood , described by Kerrang magazine as "the heaviest album of all time", and is part of the Big Four of Thrash , the four biggest thrash metal bands , along with Metallica , Megadeth and Anthrax . [ 2 ] [ 3 ]

Slayer's musical style involves fast tremolos , varied and complex guitar solos , irregular scale riffs , double bass drums , and heavy vocals alternating between falsettos and growls . Their lyrics and album art focus on themes such as serial killers , Satanism , religion , and war , which has led to numerous problems throughout the band's history, including album bans, tour delays, lawsuits, and constant criticism from religious groups. However, their music has become highly influential, often cited by many bands as a musical, visual, and lyrical influence.

In their thirty-year career, the band has released two live albums , two box sets , thirteen music videos , 18 singles , two EPs , and eleven studio albums , four of which have been certified gold by the RIAA . The band has been nominated five times for a Grammy Award in the Best Metal Performance category, winning one in 2007 for the song "Eyes of the Insane" and another in 2008 for the song "Final Six". Slayer has played at several major music festivals around the world, including Unholy Alliance , Download Festival , Ozzfest , and Rock in Rio .

In May 2018, Slayer embarked on a farewell tour, consisting of over 150 performances and spanning 30 countries. The final show took place in Los Angeles on November 30, 2019. [ 4 ] [ 5 ]

After announcing their end in mid-2019, the band announced their return, confirmed by then frontman Tom Araya and guitarist Kerry King.