SLAYER — Haunting the Chapel (review)

SLAYER — Haunting the Chapel album cover EP · 1984 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Haunting the Chapel" is an EP release by US thrash metal act Slayer that bridges the gap between their debut full-length studio album "Show No Mercy (1983)" and their second full-length studio album "Hell Awaits (1985" along with "Live Undead (1984)" which was released in November 1984. "Haunting the Chapel" was released through Metal Blade Records in August 1984.

Musically the 3 tracks on the 13:26 minutes long EP are closer in style to the NWoBHM influenced "Show No Mercy (1983)" than they are to the darker and more aggressive style on "Hell Awaits (1985)". That´s especially true for "Captor of Sin", while both "Chemical Warfare" and "Haunting the Chapel" are transitional in nature and feature a darker sound than the debut album. Later CD reissues includes the bonus track "Aggressive Perfector", which had been previously released on the "Metal Massacre 3" compilation. It therefore features a different sound production than the original tracks on the EP. Speaking of sound production, "Haunting the Chapel" features a raw, organic, detailed and powerful sound production. Considering that we´re talking 1984, this is a quality production.

"Haunting the Chapel" is a strong EP release by Slayer. Great musicianship, strong compositions ("Chemical Warfare" can rightfully be called a Slayer "classic") and a powerful sound production. This is early Slayer when they are best and a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed