Slayer

Active ·1981–present ·Huntington Park, United States ·Official site Thrash Metal

Current lineup

Kerry King Guitars 1981–2019, 2024–present
Paul Bostaph Drums 1992–2001, 2013–2019, 2024–present
Tom Araya Vocals, Bass 1981–2019, 2024–present

Short Biography

Formed in Huntington Park, California in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, with Tom Araya on bass and vocals and Dave Lombardo on drums. Metal Blade released Show No Mercy in 1983; Hell Awaits followed in 1985. Reign in Blood, produced by Rick Rubin and out in October 1986, ran twenty nine minutes and reset what a thrash record could sound like, and the three albums after it, South of Heaven, Seasons in the Abyss and Divine Intervention, held the standard without repeating it. Hanneman contracted necrotising fasciitis in 2011 and died of liver failure in May 2013, with Gary Holt of Exodus covering his parts on stage from 2011 onwards. The band announced a final tour in 2018 and played their last show at the Forum in Los Angeles on 30 November 2019, then returned in 2024 for festival dates with King, Araya and Bostaph.

Timeline

Vocals Guitars Bass Drums Live only Split up

Discography

Year	Title	Type	Kaos Score
2022	Damnation's Edge	live	—
2020	Darkness Reigns (Live 1992)	live	—
2019	The Repentless Killogy (Live at the Forum in Inglewood, CA)	live	—
2015	Repentless	full length	—
2009	World Painted Blood	full length	—
2006	Christ Illusion	full length	—
2003	Soundtrack to the Apocalypse	compilation	—
2001	God Hates Us All	full length	—
1998	Diabolus in Musica	full length	—
1998	Übernoise	compilation	—
1996	Undisputed Attitude	full length	—
1995	Serenity in Murder	ep	—
1994	Divine Intervention	full length	—
1994	Hell Awaits / Live Undead	compilation	—
1991	Decade of Aggression	live	—
1990	Seasons in the Abyss	full length	—
1988	South of Heaven	full length	—
1986	Reign in Blood	full length	—
1985	Hell Awaits	full length	—
1984	Live Undead	live	—
1984	Haunting the Chapel	ep	—
1983	Show No Mercy	full length	—