SLAYER — Show No Mercy (review)

SLAYER — Show No Mercy album cover Album · 1983 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
The Angry Scotsman
The debut album from Slayer. While Metallica's "Kill 'Em All" may have been the first thrash metal album, Slayer's "Show no Mercy" stepped it up a notch. This album is faster and darker than KEA. It is also more technical. While KEA suffered from lots of open E string tremolo picking, and simple riffing, "Show No Mercy" has more complex and wild riffing. This gives it a more intense feel. Indeed, this album feels alot more intense then KEA.

This is a straightforward thrash metal album. However, the true Slayer sound is not quite developed. This album still has alot in common with Thrash predecessors NWOBHM (Metal Storm and Tormentor) and hardcore punk (Show no Mercy). Also, the solos on this album are a tad more melodic and more composed then later Slayer. They are still quite good of course. Just like KEA this album also follows a fairly standard rock/metal structure.

This is a good album. However, being a debut it is quite amateurish. The sound quality, (while usually not an issue for me) is pretty poor. The guitars often sound distant and kind of weak, the drums sound quite poor. Tom's vocals aren't quite developed and again the quality is not to good, (can pierce all the music at times). There is no really weak song, but a lot sound kind of the same and frankly this album can be a bit bland. The drumming is pretty simplistic. Straightforward beat keeping and simple fills, (punk influence again).

That being said there is some killer music on here. Some great riffs, some pretty interesting sections, flat out intensity, really good guitar solos, and overall Tom's vocals are not so great, but he does have his moments. As he screams "I AM THE ANTICHRIST!" how can you not be floored? Standout songs: The Antichrist, Die by the Sword, Black Magic

A straightforward thrash metal album, it packs all the intensity you'd want. Amateurish in quality, and song writing (some are a bit uninspired and overall the album has a NWOBHM and punk feel) this is not a brilliant album. But it is a decent debut and great thrash.

Two and a Half Stars
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