Midlife Metal Crisis - Top Ten Heavy Metal Albums of the 1980's #3 Slayer - Reign In Blood

Midlife Metal Crisis - Top Ten Heavy Metal Albums of the 1980's #3 Slayer - Reign In Blood

In 1986 Slayer signed to Def Jam records. Def Jam at the time were almost exclusively a Hip Hop label and the band swapped from their Metal Blade record label mostly due to Rick Rubin's enthusiasm for the band.

Rubin had previous success with heavy metal stalwarts Run DMC and LL Cool J so Slayer were naturally the next step for the talented producer. What he and Slayer produced is probably the most exciting 29 minutes in recorded history. It fitted onto one side of C60 cassette perfectly, mine had it recorded twice on the same tape so when I finished I could turn it over and listen again.

  People listening to reign in blood now would think it was good but maybe miss how momentous this release was. There was nothing like this out at the time and it blew our tiny teenage minds, listening in 1986/7, sharing the tape out to your mates to try and convince them they needed this in their lives. Europe were number 1 in the UK charts and long shaggy hair was on top of the pops. Your mum was singing along to the final countdown and Bon Jovi hits and it turned out she quite liked some of your Iron Maiden records too.  She would secretly sing along downstairs as you played them in your bedroom. Not this though. Your Mum didn't like this. She fucking hated this. She also thought you were becoming a Satanist and told you not to leave it out or play it when your Nana was round. 
Probably one of the most influential Metal albums of it's time, it's legacy can be heard from Tori Amos (honestly) to the Grindcore/Death Metal bands that followed. I never heard anything else by Slayer that I found as exciting, the follow up South of Heaven was a deliberately slower album. They are still going strong although like all of us they are a little greyer and flabbier.

Midlife Metal Crisis - Top Ten Heavy Metal Albums of the 1980's #6 Judas Priest - British Steel

The Best Heavy Metal Albums of the 1980's #6 Judas Priest -British Steel (1980)

There are many albums by Judas Priest that could have been included in this list. I'm particularly partial to Turbo which I know everyone else hates but I bought it when it came out and loved it. It came between Screaming for Vengeance and British Steel, I opted for this one as its more solid as an album and represents a point where I think Heavy Metal tried to go a bit mainstream and get the commercial hooks into the songs.

Living After Midnight was their first single with a video directed by Julien Temple (Great rock n roll swindle, Absolute Beginners).




Breaking the Law, the second single is probably their most recognisable song. Simple riff, easy to play and simple chorus. Even the Mighty Boosh covered it (albeit a folk version for their Glam Folk episode). Also featuring another Temple video.

  

The final single was United. Here is a live version from the BBC in 1980

Of course now Rob Halford is openly gay and he has spoke at length about how it was a challenge hiding his sexuality through his time with Judas Priest. Although I sincerely doubt that anyone was actually surprised when he came out in the 90's. If anyone was they seriously need their Gaydar recalibrating.