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Slayer: Show No Mercy (1987 Reissue) Thrash Metal Metal Blade Records December 3rd, 1983
- Features the entire 1984 Haunting The Chapel EP. Originally posted on October 6th, 2009 | |||
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Review
Slayer!!! One of the most important names in metal today, and one of the bands credited the most as inspirations for some of today's most well known acts. No matter what show you go to, you're bound to hear one jackass belt out this name, whether it be a metal concert, or a random hippie jam fest. Over the years, the band has come a long way, and with Show No Mercy, the band's debut album, it's clear just how far the band has really come, and how heavier, and more evil, the band's music has become. Show No Mercy is definitely a groundbreaking album for the time it was released. Some of the music on here really pushed the boundaries for what heaviness really is. All the music on this release is fast and an in your face assault, especially with the tracks "The Antichrist" and "Black Magic". However, one of the best aspects of the release is not just the music itself, but the guitar solos, which are all pretty much insane. The only odd ball track on this release would be the slower, more technical track "Tormentor" which, while still an excellent song if it were to stand by itself, comes off more as a radio friendly song then anything else given what Show No Mercy presents you. But, even though this album really did so much for metal, it does have some problems. The first one that is most notable would be the gang chants that happen during the first track, "Evil Has No Boundaries". Even at the time of this recording, the people involved just sound as if they were not too enthusiastic about recording them in the first place. It also doesn't help that the vocals on this release really just don't come off too commanding due to the raw sound quality (which causes the bass to be pretty low, if not completely inaudible), but the high pitched notes that are hit are absolutely pnenomenal. While that isn't enough to destroy this amazing CD, one other oddity with this release is the sudden abuse of the echo on the vocals in the track "Black Magic", which will take a bit to get accustomed too since much of the album is done clean with very little distortion or echo thrown on the vocals already. 1987 Reissue The 1987 Metal Blade Reissue came with three bonus tracks, which comprise the 1984 EP Haunting The Chapel. It's obvious that the production quality of this EP was greater then the debut album, but the drums still seem a bit distant. Either way, now you can hear the guitar solos better, and the vocals are more commanding then they were on the original Show No Mercy tracks, causing these three to really be the best off the entire reissue. While the track "Haunting The Chapel" is a great song in the vein of Show No Mercy, even coming off as a b-side track that was later re-recorded, it's "Chemical Warfare" with it's insane musical assault, and "Captor Of Sin"s catchy, technical, bass-driven music that really drives the point of this full length, and the EP tracks, home. If you have no heard Show No Mercy and call yourself a Slayer fan, then there is something wrong with you. This release is considered one of the most vital releases in metal history for a reason. It's fast, it's heavy, it's crushing, even though it does have some faults, regardless of how big or small they come off to you.
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