In the damp, dimly lit corners of Los Angeles in 1983, four young men carved their path into heavy metal history with the release of Show No Mercy. The album was completely self-financed, with lead singer Tom Araya using the life savings he earned as a respiratory therapist and guitarist Kerry King’s father chipping in the remaining total. Blending ferocious speed with occult imagery, and a relentless energy that took inspiration from punk rock, Show No Mercy helped plant a stake that would go on to help give legs to the burgeoning thrash metal scene. And while this album itself certainly isn’t as well-regarded as some releases that would come later in the 80’s that helped to define the thrash metal genre (namely Metallica’s 1984 effort Ride The Lightning and Megadeth’s 1985 cult classic Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good!), there’s no denying that Slayer’s debut album helped kickstart the band’s career and eventually turn them into one of the most beloved American thrash metal bands of all-time.
Standout Songs: “Evil Has No Boundaries”, “The Antichrist”, “Black Magic”
