October 2021  ·  The celebration of a legacy

The episode that started the deep dive — Metal Nerdery's tribute to the greatest, darkest, evilest band in the Big Four. From the early days of Show No Mercy and Haunting the Chapel through Hell Awaits, Reign in Blood, South of Heaven, Seasons in the Abyss, the "decade of aggression," the Lakewood show with the "evil" speaker cabinet configuration, Jeff Hanneman's passing, the farewell live album in 2019, and the God Hates Us All tour memories. A bloody Chuck Billy story. Tom Araya's on-stage persona. Everything that makes FUCKING SLAYER what they are. METAL NERDERY GIVES A HAIL AND SALUTE.

November 2020  ·  The impossible ranking

The attempt to nail down six favourite FUCKING SLAYER tracks — which immediately turned into an orgy of Fucking Slayer across a million dimensions. Reign in Blood (the album) counts as one song. Covers the full catalog range: Die by the Sword, Captor of Sin, Altar of Sacrifice, Jesus Saves (the AJFA of FUCKING SLAYER), The Final Command, Live Undead, Behind the Crooked Cross, Spill the Blood, War Ensemble, Killing Fields, Disciple, and Jihad. Austin Rogers from Jeopardy is tangentionally related to metal, thanks to FUCKING SLAYER. #dontdenythepowerofmidrange

December 2025  ·  The first-ever Metal Nerdery single-track breakdown

After almost 6 years into the podcast, the first-ever single-track breakdown — and there was only one possible choice: Angel of Death, "one of the most perfect thrash metal songs EVER written" and the killer opener of Reign in Blood. Produced by Rick Rubin. Goes section by section: the intro, the first verse, the chorus, Dave Lombardo's double bass ("Metallica had double bass… but not like THAT!"), the second verse, the breakdown ("I think this may be one of the first breakdowns in metal"), the most evil guitar solos in the history of metal, and the outro. What does "abacinate" mean? Metal is mind-expanding. #WithNoAnesthesia

October 2022  ·  The inaugural Metal Nerdery Head-to-Head Death Match

The episode that launched the entire Death Match series — and what a way to kick it off. Show No Mercy (1983) vs Hell Awaits (1985): the straight-ahead debut against the more progressive, darker, longer follow-up. Evil Has No Boundaries vs Hell Awaits. The WWF Baphomet presides. "Which one is eviler?" Album covers compared. The impact of NWOBHM on both records. Chemical Warfare and Captor of Sin as bonus tracks. The verdict: "And the winner is… SHOW NO MERCY!!!" #backwardsHellAwaitsIntro #hehahuh — JOIN US. Or rather: SU NIOJ.

June 2022  ·  Released March 1985  ·  Special Guest: Eric Mixon

Slayer's most progressive album — nine minutes longer than Reign in Blood and featuring "Crypts of Eternity," perhaps the most progressive Slayer song ever written. The backwards hidden message in the intro (SU NIOJ — JOIN US). "Ways to make an album sound #eviler." Do you have the new Hell Awaits eight-track? The gargoyle imagery. The Tom Araya love ballad (Necrophiliac). The loop effect at the end of the title track that makes the album go on forever. Drums way more up front than Show No Mercy. Features Special Guest Co-Host Eric Mixon.

January 2024  ·  Released November 1984

"The Slayer equivalent of Type O Negative's Origin of the Feces." A "kinda live" re-recording of the best parts of Show No Mercy and Haunting the Chapel — captured in front of "around a dozen people" for maximum atmosphere. After 39 years, still one of the finest recorded moments in Slayer's early legacy. Features greeting cards perfect for "wordingsmiths," the concept of not being a Taintler, and the last splash. #widdlywoo is a technical guitar term. A shawty — but a mighty one.

August 2021  ·  35th Anniversary  ·  Released October 7, 1986

The greatest 28 minutes and 57 seconds in thrash metal history. So sublime it's practically one song with 10 distinct movements — "the Ten Degrees of R.I.B." Can only be listened to from start to finish, front to back, in order. Period. Produced by Rick Rubin for Def Jam Records. Angel of Death → Piece by Piece → Necrophobic → Altar of Sacrifice → Jesus Saves → Criminally Insane → Reborn → Epidemic → Postmortem → Raining Blood. The Metal Nerdery Dog Squad provided backing vocals on Altar of Sacrifice. #GoatChildren. #timetravelalbum. Go ahead and hit up Smog Dog for some anti-relaxers to keep up during the sing-along.

November 2021  ·  Released July 5, 1988

After Reign in Blood, Slayer had two options: make Reign in Blood 2, or go somewhere completely different. Thankfully they went with option B. Darker, slower, heavier riffs and an even creepier lyrical vibe — plus Behind the Crooked Cross, which has one of THE best intros in all of metal (put those first 30 seconds on infinite repeat). Mandatory Suicide. Silent Scream. Spill the Blood — the first creepy clean guitar intro in Slayer history. They also Slayerized Judas Priest's "Dissident Aggressor." Go check out the "Still Reigning" version of Mandatory Suicide's outro. #audiocalgoncore. "Kerry King's beard could not be reached for comment."

May 2024  ·  Released October 9, 1990

Slayer's Black Album — kinda. The perfect coalescence of their first four studio albums. Hooks (wait — hooks?!). Melody (that's right — melody). The most accessible Slayer album of the early era. War Ensemble is a #killeropener (can you hear the marching?). Seasons in the Abyss is the only Slayer song ever to be heard at a memorial service — and also their first music video. The album that topped Slayer's own sales chart. Bonus: "Seasoning the Obese" from Stormtroopers of Death — tangentionally related. #ROR and the resulting aftermath. Also: did Reign in Blood + South of Heaven = Seasons in the Abyss? #magicgum

August 2024  ·  Released September 27, 1994

By the early 90s, much of the thrash landscape had disappeared or transformed. Slayer refused to compromise — and came back with a furious vengeance, even angrier, darker, and eviler. The first album with Paul Bostaph replacing Dave Lombardo, and he filled the drum shoes beautifully. The S.L.A.Y.E.R. backronym is revealed. Dick Taintler's powerful message of the day. What happens when you don't use shampoo as directed. Get rid of your waterbed. The opening track is "almost like a re-revisited version of Hell Awaits in terms of riff complexity" — and that's extremely high praise. Tower Records in-store memories for this album. Killing Fields: now with even MORE #crunchyballriffs.

August 2024  ·  Released June 9, 1998

The Devil's Interval in album form. Released during the nu-metal peak — and emphatically NOT Slayer's nu-metal album. It still sounds like Slayer. There's an unusual, experimental quality present that defies definition, but the sinister signature and dark subject matter are all there. "If Metallica's nu-metal offering is St. Anger, then Slayer did an infinitely better job of putting this out as their nu-metal album — because THIS still sounds like Slayer." The chickpeas vs garbanzo beans debate. Find out where to measure from. Tune down your voice. Prepare for the most unsettling outro reel ever. Fix yourself a bowl of hummus.

September 2024  ·  Released September 11, 2001

Words cannot describe the eerily psychotic synchronicity that seemingly linked the atrocities of September 11, 2001 with the timing of the release of Slayer's 9th studio album. "Dumb and Dumber: The Box Set." The sour cream vs mayonnaise paradox. Pizza dreams are the same as fever dreams. "Bram Stroker" is a very different dude than "Bram Stoker." God Hates Us All may have been the lone moment of redemption during America's darkest hour — chock full of brutally scorching riffs, hostile vocal vitriol, and a creepier sonic signature. "The mind of a psychopath is different than ours." Bloodline was on the Dracula 2000 soundtrack — watch the video.

August 2025  ·  Released August 8, 2006

"This is the album that should have come out right after Seasons in the Abyss." The return of Dave Lombardo and a full-on return to form — the album art, the sound, and the feel are pure, uncompromising, O.G. FUCKING SLAYER right out of the gate. The Uncanny Valley in the age of AI. Which track is "the title track" and which sounds like "a Taco Bell combo meal" for Slayer fans? "Nickelback's not that bad — they're right up there with Creed." What's more metal than blast beats on the killer closer? Nothing. "Kerry King actually needs Jesus in order for Slayer to be Slayer." Doesn't a "Supremist" sound like a Slayer signature combo meal at Taco Bell?

June 2024  ·  The 1986 Head-to-Head · Metal Nerdery 5th Anniversary Special

The most inevitable Death Match in Metal Nerdery history — and the most brutal. Two albums from the same year that together define what thrash metal is. "Comparing them is like comparing tacos and spaghetti: equally incredible yet vastly unique." Battery vs Angel of Death. Orion vs Raining Blood ("awaiting the hour of reprisal, your time slips away"). Damage Inc. vs Postmortem/Raining Blood. "It's Slayer's Enter Sandman." The final tally: 4 draws, 18, and 17. "They're like tacos and spaghetti." #ReignInPuppets #MasterOfBlood. The 5th anniversary special for Metal Nerdery.

February 2023  ·  The 1988 Head-to-Head

The two albums from 1988 most synonymous with high school and summertime go head-to-head. Metallica's progressive thrash tour de force against Slayer's brooding, slower, heavier companion piece. "Anything Slayer does is more eviler." "Even minus the bass…" "Those two albums define high school and summer." Live Undead vs Eye of the Beholder. "That's the best riff right there" (on Eye of the Beholder). "I wear a speedo and I eat mayonnaise." Size does not necessarily equal potency. The unanimous pick for the best Slayer song on either album? "That's just dark… that's THE best Slayer song."

January 2025  ·  Deep cuts from the first four albums of all Big Four bands

Slayer's deep cuts from the first four albums: Show No Mercy through Reign in Blood. Haunting the Chapel. Chemical Warfare. Die by the Sword. Captor of Sin. The Final Command. The tracks that didn't make the Tribute episode or the Top 6 — but absolutely should have. "Give credit to Slayer… give credit to Slayer." The Big Four deep cut universe is vast and Metal Nerdery is committed to mapping every inch of it.

January 2025  ·  Deep cuts from the second four albums of all Big Four bands

Slayer's deeper cuts from South of Heaven through Seasons in the Abyss and beyond — the tracks that live in the shadow of the mega-classics but reward the dedicated listener every single time. The second installment of the Big Four deep cut universe.

2023  ·  "The best of bolth worlds" — Van Halen reference intended

The definitive double-sided Slayer covers episode — songs covered BY Slayer and Slayer songs covered BY other artists. BY Slayer: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Iron Butterfly) from the Less Than Zero soundtrack, Dissident Aggressor (Judas Priest — see also South of Heaven), Hand of Doom (Black Sabbath), and Slayer + Pantera doing Fucking Hostile. Covering SLAYER: Hatebreed doing Ghosts of War ("sounds like stoner speed metal"), Vader doing Silent Scream ("How is he going faster!?"), Venom doing Witching Hour, Monstrosity doing Angel of Death (#MCTentacleChoice — "they stuck the landing"), Enslaved doing Jesus Saves, and Havok doing Postmortem/Raining Blood ("And now, the part we've all waited for…"). The secret word clue for which Slayer song Def Leppard will cover is "platelets."

2019  ·  Kill 'Em All · Show No Mercy · Fistful of Metal · Killing Is My Business

The four debut albums that birthed thrash metal — all four Big Four bands, all four first albums, one episode. For Slayer: Show No Mercy (December 3, 1983) — Tom Araya financed it with money from his day job and money borrowed from Kerry King's father. Brian Slagel originally wasn't sure Dave Lombardo could record without cymbals. It became Metal Blade's highest-selling release. Terry Butler of Obituary called it "the beginning of death metal." Darkthrone's Fenriz said it influenced their fusion of NWOBHM with black metal. "You got any Slayer, man?" The jump from Show No Mercy to Hell Awaits is also covered. Kerry King confirmed that while Slayer was still honing their identity, Metallica had already found theirs — and it pushed Slayer to get there faster.

July 2024  ·  Released May 17, 2024

May 17, 2024: Kerry King released his diabolically brutal solo debut, forging a new chapter in thrash metal with vocalist Mark Osegueda (Death Angel) and Phil Demmel (Vio-Lence) on guitar. "This is definitely NOT diet Slayer." "It's huge and big… it's bigger than huge." "Like Repentless but with Mark Osegueda." "Death Angel, Vio-Lence, AND Slayer — the greatest family reunion in thrash." The Jean-Claude Van Damme banned band bandana. Who has a beef with E.T. and will NOT be phoning home. Some of the riffs would have sounded right at home on World Painted Blood. Phil Demmel's solos add serious personality to the Kerry King sound.