SHOW NO MERCY is the debut album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released in December 1983 through Metal Blade Records. Brian Slagel signed the band to Metal Blade after watching the band perform the song "Phantom of the Opera" by Iron Maiden. The band was forced to self-finance their debut album, combining the savings of vocalist Tom Araya, who was employed as a respiratory therapist, and money borrowed from guitarist Kerry King's father.
Touring extensively promoting the album, the band brought close friends and family members along the trip, who helped backstage with lighting and sound. Although criticized for poor production quality, it became Metal Blade Records highest selling release, also producing the songs "Die by the Sword", "The Antichrist" and "Black Magic", which are played at Slayer's live shows regularly.
The album that helped usher in the speed and thrash metal movement of the 80's, and later the extreme metal underground of the 90's still sounds fresh today. In order to achieve their own special style, Slayer incorporated the faster, darker elements of Judas Priest and meshed it with the punk brutality of Motörhead, albeit without the bluesy roots of either of those British bands. While the artwork and lyrics are cartoonish on this self-produced, over-the-top debut, the band's energy and aggression shine, from the opening blitzkrieg of "Evil Has No Boundaries" to the final feedback squeals of the title track. Even as it is fueled by quasi-Satanic musings and raging testosterone, SHOW NO MERCY distinguishes itself from later Slayer releases by being slightly less thrashing. Indeed, it is more melodic than its successors, and the band balance things out with a number of midtempo passages that give the faster sections more power. SHOW NO MERCY is more black metal than thrash, and it proved a key influence on a wide range of bands within the metal underground over the following two decades.
Slayer: Tom Araya (vocals, bass); Kerry King (guitar); Jeff Hanneman (guitar); Dave Lombardo (drums).
Recording information: Track Records. Audio Remasterer: Eddy Schreyer.
Produced by Slayer.
Track Listing:
1. Evil Has No Boundaries - 3:09 2. The Antichrist - 2:49 3. Die by the Sword - 3:36 4. Fight Till Death - 3:37 5. Metal Storm/Face the Slayer - 4:53 6. Black Magic - 4:03 7. Tormentor - 3:45 8. The Final Command - 2:32 9. Crionics - 3:29 10. Show No Mercy - 3:06
Show No Mercy (1993) (RMST) (METAL BLADE)
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Album Description:
SHOW NO MERCY is the debut album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released in December 1983 through Metal Blade Records. Brian Slagel signed the band to Metal Blade after watching the band perform the song "Phantom of the Opera" by Iron Maiden. The band was forced to self-finance their debut album, combining the savings of vocalist Tom Araya, who was employed as a respiratory therapist, and money borrowed from guitarist Kerry King's father.
Touring extensively promoting the album, the band brought close friends and family members along the trip, who helped backstage with lighting and sound. Although criticized for poor production quality, it became Metal Blade Records highest selling release, also producing the songs "Die by the Sword", "The Antichrist" and "Black Magic", which are played at Slayer's live shows regularly.
The album that helped usher in the speed and thrash metal movement of the 80's, and later the extreme metal underground of the 90's still sounds fresh today. In order to achieve their own special style, Slayer incorporated the faster, darker elements of Judas Priest and meshed it with the punk brutality of Motörhead, albeit without the bluesy roots of either of those British bands. While the artwork and lyrics are cartoonish on this self-produced, over-the-top debut, the band's energy and aggression shine, from the opening blitzkrieg of "Evil Has No Boundaries" to the final feedback squeals of the title track. Even as it is fueled by quasi-Satanic musings and raging testosterone, SHOW NO MERCY distinguishes itself from later Slayer releases by being slightly less thrashing. Indeed, it is more melodic than its successors, and the band balance things out with a number of midtempo passages that give the faster sections more power. SHOW NO MERCY is more black metal than thrash, and it proved a key influence on a wide range of bands within the metal underground over the following two decades.
Slayer: Tom Araya (vocals, bass); Kerry King (guitar); Jeff Hanneman (guitar); Dave Lombardo (drums).
Recording information: Track Records.
Audio Remasterer: Eddy Schreyer.
Produced by Slayer.
Track Listing:
1. Evil Has No Boundaries - 3:09
2. The Antichrist - 2:49
3. Die by the Sword - 3:36
4. Fight Till Death - 3:37
5. Metal Storm/Face the Slayer - 4:53
6. Black Magic - 4:03
7. Tormentor - 3:45
8. The Final Command - 2:32
9. Crionics - 3:29
10. Show No Mercy - 3:06