Hell Awaits is the second studio album by Slayer. Compared to the debut – Show no Mercy, Hell Waits is much more developed in the song department. It started already on the EP Haunting the Chapel and here they take it one step further. It really starting to sound like slaying now. Tom Arays still tries to sing at occasions but I think he’s starting to find his voice here.
The guitars are doing more “slayer-stuff” than on the first album. The rhythms are a bit more complex than just fast and pedal note picking. The solos are more classic Slayer-like and haunting. There’s not so much harmonies yet but this is certainly where it it begins. It’s more progressive than before and the lyrics seems to be darker and not just “for show” as they felt on the first album. Of course tey’re for show though. The satanic imagery and themes are an image of course.
I don’t think there are any songs that really stands out on Hell Awaits though. Of course, we have the opening title track which begins with backwards messages. It was a few year before the famous trial against Judas Priest when they were accused of placing subliminal messages on the song Better by You, Better than Me. I don’t know the precise details on the top of my head, but someone died and the band was accused of suggesting it though backwards messages on the album. They were acquitted of course.
But Hell Awaits certainly contains backwards lyrics. It’s hard to make out the words but since the internet is a wast place I found that it repeats the phrase “Join Us” over and over again. It makes sense for a Satanic Chant.
Dave Lombardo is beginning to show why he’s one of the the best metal drummers in the world. He’s not just laying the rhythm, he’s certainly contributing to the sound of Slayer. I don’t think that Slayer would have become what they became without him behind the drumkit.
The sound and production on Hell Awaits is a little bit better than on the previous album and the EP Haunting the Chapel. But it still sounds a little like they need to enhance it a bit. Well, Rick Rubin is coming…
