Slayer

Slayer
Slayer
	Slayer at Hellfest 2017. From left to right: Gary Holt, Tom Araya and Kerry King.
Background information
Origin	Huntington Park, California, U.S.
Genres	Thrash metal
Years active	1981–2019
Labels	Metal Blade; Def Jam; American; Nuclear Blast;
Associated acts	Exodus; Testament; Ice-T;
Website	slayer.net
Past members	Kerry King; Tom Araya; Jeff Hanneman; Dave Lombardo; Paul Bostaph; Jon Dette; Gary Holt;

Slayer is an American thrash metal band that began in California in 1981. The band was started guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, as well as drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/singer Tom Araya. Slayer is one of the "Big Four" of thrash metal music, along with Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth.^[1]

Slayer's music has a fast and angry heavy metal style. The words to the band's songs are about murderers, Satan, religion, racism and war. Singing about these things gave the band a lot of controversy. Their music has inspired many other bands. Their third album, Reign in Blood, has been called one of the heaviest thrash metal albums.^[2]

Slayer has released ten studio albums, two live albums and a box-set. Four of the band's albums have been certified gold by the RIAA. The band has been the top band at many large music festivals around the world and their music has been added to many video games.

Band members

Current members

Tom Araya – Lead vocals, bass (1981–present)
Kerry King – Guitar (1981–present)
Paul Bostaph – Drums (1992–1996, 1997–2001, 2013–present)
Gary Holt – Guitar (2011–present)

Former members

Jeff Hanneman – Guitar (1981–2013)
Dave Lombardo – Drums (1981–1986, 1987–1992, 2001–2013)
Tony Scaglione – Drums (1986–1987)
Jon Dette – Drums (1996–1997, 2013)

Discography

Albums

Show No Mercy (1983)
Hell Awaits (1985)
Reign in Blood (1986)
South of Heaven (1988)
Seasons in the Abyss (1990)
Divine Intervention (1994)
Undisputed Attitude (1996)
Diabolus in Musica (1998)
God Hates Us All (2001)
Christ Illusion (2006)
World Painted Blood (2009)
Repentless (2015)^[3]^[4]

Slayer Media

Slayer in 1983. From left: Kerry King, Dave Lombardo, Jeff Hanneman, and Tom Araya
Jeff Hanneman was the guitarist of Slayer for 30 years, from 1981 to 2011. He was the main songwriter along with Kerry King, as well as a lyricist.
Guitarist Kerry King was one of the two constant members of Slayer.
Bassist/vocalist Tom Araya was one of the two constant members of Slayer.
Original Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo rejoined the band in 2001 after a nine-year hiatus, and performed on the albums Christ Illusion (2006) and World Painted Blood (2009) before departing once again in 2013.
Mayhem fest 2009
Exodus guitarist Gary Holt joined Slayer in 2011, originally as a touring member, and later became an official replacement for Jeff Hanneman, who died in 2013.
Hanneman, Araya and King were the main contributors for the band's lyrics.
Lombardo's speed and aggression earned him the title of the "godfather of double bass" by Drummerworld.