Very much a reflection of the double-picking crunchiness coming from Los
Angeles at the time. This album is an expansion of the same thought, which has expanded itself from Slayer's early EP size works into a full length LP. With this album, Slayer's style has peaked with their familiar thrash structures adapted from their influences, namely Venom. They have come to a stylistic crossroads with Hell Awaits. From Hell Awaits they would progress into a faster, punkish hybrid of controlled dissonance, a style featured on the seminal Reign In Blood.
Tom Araya's vocal styling can be quite humorous and sophomoric. Sometimes it almost sounds like they are mimicking the ominous force of metal through parody. This could have well have been the truth, since Tom Araya and Jeff Hanneman were more into the Dead Kennedy's than Manowar. In
fact, they were looking to start a hardcore punk band when Kerry King came along. King had a hard time turning Boston riffs into punk riffs so they took the metal route. In most of the interviews that feature Slayer, Tom and Jeff seem to have punk rock sensibilities rather than acting the part of Rock God Metalleers. Without a doubt, Hell Awaits is a very entertaining album, if not just for its long lasting reminder of a bygone age.
I always remember Hell Awaits for its Dali-esque cover art and the albums dark and over-the-top Socio-satanic imagery. There was much more to come from Slayer following this album. Also, other bands like S.O.D, Sacred Reich, Nuclear Assault, Deicide, Death, and an entire legion of others began compiling songs with a distinctive Slayer edge to them. However, Hell Awaits was the sending point for Slayer as the American speed metal proprietors.



Recommended: Yes