20 Most Important Hard Rock Albums Of All Time

In the mid 80's, thrash was still trying to find its feet. Emerging from the underground, bands like Metallica and Anthrax were taking the typical metal sounds of Motorhead and Judas Priest and infusing them with a healthy dose of punk rock attitude and aggression. Though these bands had their unique spins on the genre, no band was as pure thrash as Slayer.

With their third release Reign in Blood, Slayer had crafted an album of some of the most demented tunes to come from the metal canon. From the minute you hear a song like "Angel of Death," you're transported into the depths of Hell while being bludgeoned at every turn by one of Kerry King's guitar riffs. The breakneck tempos and relentless fury in each of these performances make the listener almost feel like a speedbag as each beat pounds into your skull.

When most bands had to water down their sound to get the mainstream's attention, Slayer found their own tribe by being the most ferocious metal band that the world had ever seen. Pissing off parents and terrifying younger siblings the world over, Reign In Blood is the ultimate example of not compromising your sound and has been the standard for how heavy a band could get.