10 Greatest Metal Albums Of The 1980’s
7. Slayer – South Of Heaven
Yes, there are better known Slayer albums like Reign In Blood, and Hell Awaits, but South Of Heaven's slightly different take on the thrash metal genre gave the band a depth that had not been displayed in their earlier releases.
The tempo of the album was considerably altered compared to the previous release, and the vocals were far less aggressive, which made the sound more comparable to softer thrash bands, while maintaining that classic Slayer edge, making it arguably their best studio album to date.
While it is true that some critics were utterly disgusted by the slight changes to the style they were accustomed to, the majority praised the album, and this was reflected in the sales, with the album going gold in both the United States and Canada.
Highlights include the songs Mandatory Suicide, and South Of Heaven, which remain staples in the Slayer’s live set to this day.