10 Perfect Metal Albums With ZERO Flaws
3. Reign in Blood - Slayer
By the time the metal scene blossomed out in the mid 80's, the entire fanbase was split into different factions. While some were still bowing to the New Wave scene of the early years, there was a clear line drawn between the hair metal bands coming from LA and the thrash metal emerging from the underground. Though the sounds of spandex and hairspray have earned their spot in metal history, Reign In Blood is the record that took everything great about metal and put it into one place.
From the devilish imagery to the intense riffs and screaming vocals, this album is one of the most visceral listens to come from the 80's, with horrific masterpieces like "Angel of Death." You can hear influences of bands like Sabbath and Maiden, but Slayer were able to take that dark imagery and inject it with just the right amount of hardcore punk to make it one of the most intense album experiences ever put to tape.
The album may be less than a half an hour, but when the songs are this intense, why bother coating the rest of the album with filler? Whereas most metal albums make you want to headbang, this is the kind of album that kicks the snot out of you and has you thanking it by its end.