"Hell Awaits" is classic Slayer! The confronting horrific imagery, the gruesome lyrics, the awesome shredding riffs, the fantastic crunching drumming, the anger drenched screaming vocals. It's all here in all its glory. This album marked a real step up in ferocity for these US youngsters. After ripping holes in the metal scene with their debut, there was really nothing else for these thrashers to do but try to outdo themselves with its follow-up. This is a faster Slayer, a heavier Slayer, and a darker, more satanic Slayer. Everything got turned up a notch and their trademark sound was comprehensively built upon with enthusiasm and raw talent.

I don't think there is a better introduction to an album than "Hell Awaits". It's no coincidence that the band started with this track for their also classic live album "Decade of Aggression". The words "join us" repeated over and over backwards in what sounds like a background of Hell itself. Then the guitars take over. Each subsequent riff is pure unadulterated Slayer and segues perfectly into the next until it builds up to climax and payoff, all before a single word is spoken. Other highlights for me are "Kill Again" and "Necrophiliac", both demonstrating the more ferocious side to this legendary band, but there are no filler tracks to be found.

I must admit that it took quite some time for this album to get its claws into me. I always preferred "Show No Mercy" and well...nothing compares with the legendary "Reign in Blood" that would soon follow. And yet 20 years on and this album really stands up tremendously well. What seemed fairly raw and chaotic at times when I was a teenager is now such a breath of fresh air when compared to the mechanical, occasionally lifeless proficiency of the modern generation of metal. That's not to say this is messy, as Slayer were a well-oiled machine by this stage and Dave Lombardo in particular could never be anything but perfect. It's just that there are riffs and solos flying everywhere. Tom seems to be struggling to keep up with the shredding music at times while blasphemously screaming out his lyrics. There's very much a live sound throughout with a production that just oozes passion and hunger. This is thrash in its purest form and I love it more than ever. If only they were still this good!

Slayer's second full length release "Hell Awaits" was a considerable improvement over their debut album "Show No Mercy". With the exception of the rather lackluster closer "Hardening of the Arteries" every track is excellent. "Necrophiliac", "Kill Again", "At Dawn They Sleep" and the awesome title track are all thrash masterpieces. Lyrically the subject matter is focused mostly on Satanism, violence and other degenerate acts. It's so over the top that it's quite comical actual, but that's part of the charm of the album. The only real problem with the album is the terrible production. Well at least the bass is audible. On the whole though this is a great album and should be in any metal enthusiasts collection. Satan commands you to buy it NOW!

This second work of the Californian quartet is the natural evolution from the simple-thrash metal sound of "Show No Mercy" and the pure violent Slayer's thrash metal. This seven-songs CD contains the true, unmistakable peculiarities which made Slayer the fathers of death metal: without "Hell Awaits" it couldn't exist "Reign In Blood" and without this last one now there wouldn't be death metal. From the terrific introduction of the title song including hell's noises, Satan's voice and screams of damned, suddenly you discover the heavy and fastest-beats drums play by Dave Lombardo, the scarey climate created by Tom Araya's bass and inimitable voice, the lead guitars Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King with their fastest, very difficult and amelodic solos - a tipical Slayer's feature. Passing by the mystic "At Dawn They Sleep" until "Necrophiliac" with its dreadful lyrics, you will be captured by the scarey atmosphere created by them. Maybe songs have too lenght to be thrash metal songs, in fact the shortness of "Reign In Blood" album is one of the reasons why it has been a record hit. However if you like the hardening of sound, the music's strenght and complexity cancels the problem. What else? If you like the purest musical violence, you must buy this album made by THE ONLY GROUP WHICH MAKES GUITARS CRY!!! HELL AWAITS YOU!!!

It's been said before....Slayer is speed metal band, an excellent one at that. Just sample the music and see for yourself. Why someone would waste time using the same foolish review for their albums is beyond me.

Show No Mercy was a good album, but lacked originality and Slayer were still learning the game. after Haunting the Chapel, Slayer began to pattern their own sound, and here on Hell Awaits, they have their own thing going, and boy does it rock. From the ferocious, ripping title track, to "Kill Again" through all 7 blood-thirsty tracks is a feast of metal riffs, and while the production is muddy and the vocals have too much echo, the songs overcome that and rock. "Hardening of the Arteries", "At Dawn They Sleep", and "Necrophiliac" are all signs of what is to come in the Slayer camp. Definitely buy this one!