Internally Deformed
Farseer of the Paranormal Abysm
Actually scratch that, Timeghoul's Panaramic Twilight might well be worthy of a top twenty position.
I don't care what you think about Slayer as a whole, they are mediocre since they haven't been relevant for 25+ years.
I care about what you think of their first 3 albums + EP, which are all varying levels of godliness.
Well I do think Slayer is pretty mediocre
I now no longer trust your opinion on anything.
I like the stuff they did before Reign in blood fine enough. With Reign in blood I like Angel of death and the rest is meh. I also think Rainning blood the song is cringey.
I don't like Reign in Blood as much as the previous 2, or Haunting the Chapel either. It's still great, though. Hell Awaits is my absolute favourite and easily crushes every other thrash album I've ever heard.
I can get why someone might not like the latter two, particularly Iron Maiden. But Slayer have written some of the coolest riffs in extreme music, and all their first four albums are pure fucking auditory evil from start to finish. I don't see how anyone with even a casual interest in Death Metal or Thrash could listen to a song like Altar of Sacrifice, At Dawn They Sleep or Live Undead and not see that it rules.
I don't see how anyone can listen to South of heaven and not be annoyed at the laughable vocals and pitiful attempt to create a brooding atmosphere. It also comes off as if they are trying to hold back on that album which adds to the awkwardness of it.
It's like you've listened to a completely different album to me. You need to stop searching around for obscure demos and go back and listen to the greats until you fully appreciate just why they're so good. I remember you saying that you thought Altars of Madness was overrated, too, so I suggest you also stick that on repeat when you've finished with Slayer. Any other legendary bands you think are overrated?
I don't like Pantera. I don't like Guns n roses either.
My issue isn't that it's not brutal but it sounds like they're purposefully holding back and it doesn't feel natural. Listen to Behind the crooked cross for embarrassing vocals. Overall it just comes off as watered down to me. I'll go with Show no mercy as their best for me.No disagreement on either of those. I like Appetite for Destruction, but I get that taste is a factor there. Slayer are so central to what death and thrash became, though, that taste doesn't even come into it.
I'm listening to South of Heaven again right now and Araya's vocals sound epic. I know what you mean by the sound of the album being more restrained, but I don't see that as a drawback - it lends clarity.