Slayer
Show No Mercy
[Metal Blade]
The great thing about Slayer's Reign in Blood album is that it's an album
of great songs by guys who really can't play well, proving that the
strength of an album is in the song writing - and while the members of
Slayer may never win any talent contests when it comes to technical
ability, they sure can craft some pretty evil numbers. So what happens
BEFORE you learn how to write a song? You rip off your heroes. And since
Slayer's early heroes were Judas Priest, that's what their debut album,
Show No Mercy, ended up sounding like - a sped-up-to-hell version of
classic Priest (Not that Turbo/synth stuff; I'm talking the GOOD shit - Sin
after Sin, Stained Class...) - which is why I like it so much.
The riffs and song structures on Show No Mercy all harken back to the classic days of early heavy metal - very far from their double-picked angular/chromatic riffs of late. Lots of open-string galloping, pedal-note/diad riffs, unconventional perfect fourth/fifth harmonized riffing, and that classic tried-and-true method of guitar orchestration, counterpoint - it's all over songs like "Evil Has No Boundaries", "Fight Until Death", "Crionics", and the title track. The solos are also much more 'conventional' and melodic/blues-based, most notably in the descending/tapping run in the ending solo on "Die by the Sword" or Jeff Hanneman's almost-mellow melodic solo in "The Antichrist". "Black Magic" is probably the one song that comes closest to defining their later style, as the main riff has a nice descending parallel-third part that is similar to riffs they later used in "South of Heaven" (the song) and "Dead Skin Mask".
While at first the style may seem 'weak' to those more used to the band's later style, the song writing is still top-notch on "Show No Mercy", and the album also has a wild streak of youthful aggression that (to me) they've never really matched since. I still think it's a worthy addition to any metalhead's library, especially those with a craving for the mid-80's style thrash/speed metal.
© 1999 lord vic
The riffs and song structures on Show No Mercy all harken back to the classic days of early heavy metal - very far from their double-picked angular/chromatic riffs of late. Lots of open-string galloping, pedal-note/diad riffs, unconventional perfect fourth/fifth harmonized riffing, and that classic tried-and-true method of guitar orchestration, counterpoint - it's all over songs like "Evil Has No Boundaries", "Fight Until Death", "Crionics", and the title track. The solos are also much more 'conventional' and melodic/blues-based, most notably in the descending/tapping run in the ending solo on "Die by the Sword" or Jeff Hanneman's almost-mellow melodic solo in "The Antichrist". "Black Magic" is probably the one song that comes closest to defining their later style, as the main riff has a nice descending parallel-third part that is similar to riffs they later used in "South of Heaven" (the song) and "Dead Skin Mask".
While at first the style may seem 'weak' to those more used to the band's later style, the song writing is still top-notch on "Show No Mercy", and the album also has a wild streak of youthful aggression that (to me) they've never really matched since. I still think it's a worthy addition to any metalhead's library, especially those with a craving for the mid-80's style thrash/speed metal.
© 1999 lord vic