Reign in Blood
Praise for the series:
It was only a matter of time before a clever publisher realized that there is an audience for whom Exile on Main Street or Electric Ladyland are as significant and worthy of study as The Catcher in the Rye or Middlemarch…. The series … is freewheeling and eclectic, ranging from minute rock-geek analysis to idiosyncratic personal celebration—The New York Times Book Review
Ideal for the rock geek who thinks liner notes just aren’t enough—Rolling Stone
One of the coolest publishing imprints on the planet—Bookslut
These are for the insane collectors out there who appreciate fantastic design, well-executed thinking, and things that make your house look cool. Each volume in this series takes a seminal album and breaks it down in startling minutiae. We love these. We are huge nerds—Vice
A brilliant series…each one a work of real love—NME (UK)
Passionate, obsessive, and smart—Nylon
Religious tracts for the rock ’n’ roll faithful—Boldtype
[A] consistently excellent series—Uncut (UK)
We … aren’t naive enough to think that we’re your only source for reading about music (but if we had our way … watch out). For those of you who really like to know everything there is to know about an album, you’d do well to check out Continuum’s “33 1/3” series of books.—Pitchfork
For reviews of individual titles in the series, please visit our website at www.continuumbooks.com and 33third.blogspot.com
Also available in this series:
Dusty in Memphis by Warren Zanes
Forever Changes by Andrew Hultkrans
Harvest by Sam Inglis
The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society by Andy Miller
Meat Is Murder by Joe Pernice
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn by John Cavanagh
Abba Gold by Elisabeth Vincentelli
Electric Ladyland by John Perry
Unknown Pleasures by Chris Ott
Sign ‘O’ the Times by Michaelangelo Matos
The Velvet Underground and Nico by Joe Harvard
Let It Be by Steve Matteo
Live at the Apollo by Douglas Wolk
Aqualung by Allan Moore
OK Computer by Dai Griffiths
Let It Be by Colin Meloy
Led Zeppelin IV by Erik Davis
Armed Forces by Franklin Bruno
Exile on Main Street by Bill Janovitz
Grace by Daphne Brooks
Murmur by J. Niimi
Pet Sounds by Jim Fusilli
Ramones by Nicholas Rombes
Endtroducing… by Eliot Wilder
Kick Out the Jams by Don McLeese
Low by Hugo Wilcken
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Kim Cooper
Music from Big Pink by John Niven
Paul’s Boutique by Dan LeRoy
Doolittle by Ben Sisario
There’s a Riot Goin’ On by Miles Marshall Lewis
Stone Roses by Alex Green
Bee Thousand by Marc Woodworth
The Who Sell Out by John Dougan
Highway 61 Revisited by Mark Polizzotti
Loveless by Mike McGonigal
The Notorious Byrd Brothers by Ric Menck
Court and Spark by Sean Nelson
Songs in the Key of Life by Zeth Lundy
Use Your Illusion I and II by Eric Weisbard
Daydream Nation by Matthew Stearns
Trout Mask Replica by Kevin Courrier
Double Nickels on the Dime by Michael T. Fournier
People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm by Shawn Taylor
Aja by Don Breithaupt
Rid of Me by Kate Schatz
Achtung Baby by Stephen Catanzarite
If You’re Feeling Sinister by Scott Plagenhoef
Let’s Talk About Love by Carl Wilson
Swordfishtrombones by David Smay
20 Jazz Funk Greats by Drew Daniel
Horses by Philip Shaw
Master of Reality by John Darnielle
Reign in Blood
D.X. Ferris
2008
The Continuum International Publishing Group Inc
80 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038
The Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd
The Tower Building, 11 York Road, London SE1 7NX
www.continuumbooks.com
33third.blogspot.com
Copyright © 2008 by D.X. Ferris
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publishers or their agents.
Cover art reprinted courtesy SonyBMG Music Entertainment Printed in Canada on 100% postconsumer waste recycled paper
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ferris, D. X.
Reign in blood / D.X. Ferris.
p. cm. -- (33 1/3)
Includes bibliographical references.
eISBN 978-1-4411-8349-1
1. Slayer (Musical group) 2. Rock musicians--United States. 3. Slayer (Musical group) Reign in blood. I. Title. II. Series.
ML421.S612F47 2008
782.42166092’2--dc22
2008014589
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Reign in Blood, featuring original commentary from…
Introduction
The Argument: Fuckin’ Slayer
Talkin’ Thrash
“Metalstorm: Face the Slayer”
Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman
Drummer Dave Lombardo
Singer-Bassist Tom Araya
Guitarist Kerry King
DJ-RR: The Producer, Rick Rubin. And the Label, Def Jam.
Engineer Andy Wallace
Recruiting New Blood
Writing Blood
Recording Blood
Illustrating Blood
Bad Day at Black Rock
Def Metal: Slayer in the House
Reviewing Blood
The Reign
Reign in Blood: The Songs and Their Impact
Reing in Blood, in Summary
The Legacy
Notes, Asides, and Works Cited
1986, Slayer in the studio with Reign producer Rick Rubin, at Hit City West, Los Angeles. Top left: Rubin. Bottom, L to R: Jeff Hanneman, Dave Lombardo, Tom Araya, Kerry King. Photo © Glen E. Friedman (www.BurningFlags.com).
2004, Slayer, covered in (fake) blood, after performing Reign in Blood in its entirety, as captured for the Still Reigning DVD. Photo by Kevin Estrada.
Acknowledgments
In memory of Professor Emeritus Ronald Forsythe, Nora Ferris, Lorna Ferris, Dave Moran, Vera Lehane, Dr. Bernard De Filippo, Vincent Roskovensky, and Sumner J. Ferris—sorry there’s no index, dad; it wasn’t my call.
Singular instruction and consultation: Alan Natali.
Thanks for planting seeds and opening doors: James G. Lakely, Bill Bennett, Greg Christiansen, Aaron Burgess, Jason Bracelin, Jason Pettigrew, Mike Shea, Pete Kotz, and Dan LeRoy.
Real music people if I’ve ever met any: Stigma, Michael Gallucci, and Sluggo.
Many kind people helped with this book; none of them had to. Thanks to everyone in the following pages, twice, at least. Slayer. Rick Rubin. Andy Wallace. Heidi Ellen Robinson-Fitzgerald. Julie Arkenstone. Eleanor Logan. The Three Kings of Metal Collectors: Spahr Schmitt, Jamie Walters, and Tony Alberts. Niklas the Slayer Collector (http://go.to/slayercollector). Paul at Slayerized.com. Bill Peters. Matt Wardla
w. Jeff Lamm. Chris Bade. Maria Ferrero. Gabrielle Allen. Gabriella Page-Fort. Mike Palone. Jerry Graham. George Vallee. Betsey Cichoracki. Carl Schultz. Loana dP. Valencia. Tresa Sanders. Charles Elliot. Tom Wojcik. David Giffels. Dave Brenner. Mark Price. Dan Muro. Borders #63 (the general public doesn’t deserve you). Bill Adler. Danny Marianinho. Kevin Berve at Reel Efx, and Anthony “T.J.” Scaglione—sorry your chapters didn’t fit; they were good ones. Stacy Gueraseva. Whoever put together the Slayer Ultra Bootleg Pack. Brandon Marshall (MarshalPhotography.com). Blood Metal Donor. Bonnie Angotti. Paul Hooper. Greg Van Krol. John Comprix. Killick. Kurt Brecht. Judy Gish at Caltrans. Patty Falk at Bowling Green State University Music Library & Sound Recordings Archives. Calvin College’s Hekman Library. The Akron Public Library (Fairlawn and Downtown). Also: Apeneck Sweeney. Chuck Cage, Audra Heaslip, and Sean O’Hara. Claudia, Mandy, Eric, and Alex. Nate. TM. Randy & Jennifer McFeely. Ed Rohrer. Matt Gorey. Donnie Iris. Everybody I forgot. R.I.P.: Diamond Dave Herth, Kevin DuBrow, Bob Muldowney, and Mikey Offender. Metal people are good people. And extra thanks to Dr. David Barker, for making Slayer part of this series.
Most of all: Ryley, Sydney, and Rachel. You’re the best. Thanks for making it possible. Love is like a rock.
Reign in Blood
featuring original commentary from:
The Creators
Slayer: Tom Araya, Jeff Hanneman, Kerry King, and Dave Lombardo
Behind the boards: Rick Rubin and Andy Wallace
Cover artist: Larry Carroll
The Witnesses
Sean “the Captain” Carasov. Beastie Boys’ tour manager from the Def Jam era.
George Drakoulias. Rubin’s college roommate. Then described by Carasov as “Robin to Rubin’s metal Batman,” now acclaimed producer of the Black Crowes and Tom Petty.
Glen E. Friedman. Photographer known for recognizable images of the Dogtown Z-Boys skaters, the Beastie Boys, Fugazi, and others.
Scott Koenig. Slayer friend who introduced the band to Rubin, earning his spot on the rock squad at Def Jam.
Chuck Perrin. Produced the first album of Andy Wallace’s band, First Friday.
Rick Sales. Slayer’s manager. First worked for the band as the Reign tour manager, recommended by Metallica managers Cliff Burnstein and Peter Mensch.
MC Serch. Emcee for Def Jam’s 3rd Bass, more recently seen as host of ego trip’s The (White) Rapper Show.
Anthony “T.J.” Scaglione. Former Whiplash/M.O.D. drummer who filled in for Lombardo when he left during the Reign tour.
Hank Shocklee. Leader of the Bomb Squad, the production team behind Def Jam albums by Public Enemy, Slick Rick, and 3rd Bass.
Russell Simmons. Rubin’s partner in Def Jam. Arguably the biggest force in bringing hip-hop culture to the masses.
Brian Slagel. Slayer’s manager before Def Jam. Also head of Metal Blade, the band’s first label.
Bill Stephney. Def Jam promotions director.
Georges Sulmers. Former Def Jam Head of International Business Affairs. Part of Rubin’s informal rock division.
The Fans
Tori Amos. Pianist-singer-songwriter. Recorded a cover of “Raining Blood.”
Philip Anselmo. Frontman of Pantera, Down, and Arson Anthem. Pantera kept metal in arenas during the 90s.
Rob Arnold. Guitarist of Chimaira, one of the few contemporary metal bands Kerry King likes.
Matt Bachand. Guitarist of Shadows Fall, leaders in the thrash-indebted New Wave of American Metal.
Kurt Ballou. Guitarist of avant garde hardcore heroes Converge. Also producer-engineer (Cave In, Converge, Isis).
Charlie Benante. Drummer of Anthrax and seminal crossover band S.O.D., pioneer of the blastbeat.
Corey Bing. Utility infielder for underground metal groups Fistula, Necrodamus, and King Travolta.
Anders Björler. Guitarist of Swedish death metal pioneers At the Gates, more recently of the Haunted.
Karl Buechner. Frontman of Freya, Path of Resistance, and Earth Crisis—one of the hardcore bands instrumental in making metal conventions part of punk in the 90s.
John Comprix. Guitarist of throwback metal band Beyond Fear and hardcore cult heroes Ringworm.
Brann Dailor. Drummer of Mastodon, a major-label metal band on the short list of groups that could be the next Metallica.
Glenn Danzig. Mainman of the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig.
Katon W. De Pena. Frontman of So. Cal old-school thrash also-rans Hirax.
Dave Ellefson. Golden-era Megadeth bassist.
Jack Endino. Producer of Nirvana, High on Fire, and Soundgarden.
Rick Ernst. Director of the documentary Get Thrashed, the definitive look at thrash.
Tony Foresta. Frontman of Municipal Waste, thrash-friendly crossover revivalists who play like it’s ’86.
Angela Gossow. Singer of Swedish melodic death metal phenom Arch Enemy.
Page Hamilton. Singer-guitarist of Helmet. Has a master’s degree in jazz guitar, and compares Hanneman and King’s iconoclastic style to self-taught master Wes Montgomery.
Dwid Hellion. Frontman of Roses Never Fade and Integrity, a vanguard hardcore band from the first generation of punks to openly embrace metal, in the late 80s and 90s.
Larry Herweg. Drummer of Pelican, an instrumental metal band popular in both stoner- and indie-rock circles.
Killick Erik Hinds. Composer who covered the entire Reign in Blood LP, solo, on a H’arpeggione, a big, custom-designed, acoustic string instrument.
Gene Hoglan. Drummer of Dark Angel, Strapping Young Lad, Pitch Black Forecast, Death, and Testament. As onetime drum tech for Slayer, helped Lombardo figure out how to play double bass.
Gary Holt. Guitarist-leader of Exodus, one of the top six old-school thrash bands.
Eugene Hütz. Frontman of Gypsy punks Gogol Bordello.
Ill Bill. Rapper-producer who wrote the song “The Unauthorized Biography of Slayer” in honor of his favorite band.
Bill Kelliher. Guitarist for Mastodon, who have survived opening five Slayer tours.
Dan Lilker. Bassist for Nuclear Assault, Brutal Truth, S.O.D., formerly Anthrax, and others. A walking metal encyclopedia.
Roger Miret. Frontman of old-school New York hardcore heroes Agnostic Front, one of many punk bands to play with Slayer in the 80s.
Nergal. Singer-guitarist of Polish blackened-death metal warriors Behemoth.
Buzz Osborne. Melvins mainman. Played with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo in Fantômas for nearly a decade.
Tim “Ripper” Owens. Beyond Fear vocalist who replaced Rob Halford in Judas Priest. One of metal’s top voices.
Trevor Perez. Guitarist of Florida death metal pioneers Obituary.
Bill Peters. Host of WJCU Friday-night radio show Metal on Metal since 1982. Saw a Slayer concert on his honeymoon.
Dave Peters. Frontman of Throwdown, a Pantera-style band that grew up in hardcore circles. Metal’s ambassadors to the Warped Tour.
Lars Göran Petrov. Frontman of Sweden’s Entombed, pioneers of the accessible death metal style sometimes called death-and-roll.
Trevor Phipps. Frontman of thrash-leaning Unearth.
Matt Pike. Frontman of stoner-metal warrior-kings High on Fire. Learned to play guitar by dropping acid and mimicking Slayer solos
Henry Rollins. Frontman of the Rollins Band, formerly Black Flag. Has every Slayer record.
Paul Romano. Reigning champ of sophisticated extreme-music album covers, best known for his Mastodon art.
Jim Root. Guitarist of Slipknot, the one true metal band from the nü metal era.
Rate Skates. Former Overkilll drummer. Toured with Slayer during the Reign era. Director of Overkill-thrash documentary Born in the Basement.
Devin Townsend. Frontman of the Devin Townsend Band and metal traditionalists Strapping Young Lad.
Kat Von D. As star of L.A. Ink, America’s most popular tattoo artist.
Andy Williams. Guitarist of Every Time I Die, survivors of the metalcore movement, who gracefu
lly fuse classic rock, metal, and hardcore—like Slayer, but to a much different effect.
Deryck Whibley. Frontman of pop-punk vets Sum 41. Slayer guitarist Kerry King contributed a solo to Sum’s “What We’re All About.”
Sean Yseult. White Zombie bassist, currently with Rock City Morgue.
1986, touring Blood. Slayer in Seattle, between sound check and set. L to R: Hanneman, Araya, Lombardo, and Kerry King—wearing approximately 250 2.5-inch nails. Photo © Glen E. Friedman (www.BurningFlags.com).
2006, Andy Wallace, engineer of Reign in Blood, mixer of Nirvana’s Nevermind, and producer of Jeff Buckley’s Grace. Photo by Andy Wallace.
Introduction
“Thinking about death can enrich your life, not just detract from it…. The sense that things are not eternal, that you don’t have them forever, enhances their value.”
—Drew Gilpin Faust
“If it doesn’t concern life and death, it’s not interesting.”
—Cormac McCarthy
I’ve seen fire, and I’ve seen Reign in Blood. Fire’s another story. Read on, and you’ll learn about Slayer’s Reign in Blood, the best heavy metal album, by the best metal band.1 Reign is twenty-nine minutes of pure hell, made with some of the biggest names in the music business.
Bear with me for a moment, and you’ll hear from the people who made Reign a true phenomenon—those who wrote it, who recorded it, and who still take notes on the album, more than twenty years after it was released.
Slayer has been better longer than any other band.
The group came to my attention a little early, a little late, in 1985, when the term “heavy metal” was forcibly entering the pop-culture lexicon. After Quiet Riot and Mötley Crüe put metal on my radar, the syndicated radio show Metalshop scorched me with “Fight Fire with Fire”—the first song from Metallica’s second album, their major-label debut. Now I was hooked on the hard stuff: thrash metal.
Then college radio introduced me to D.R.I.—an impossibly fast hardcore band that squeezed twenty-two songs onto a seven-inch EP. I was ready to quit metal and move to the punk side once and for all. In those days, most people listened to hardcore or metal. You chose a side and stayed there. And my ticket to punk was bought. My bags were packed.