Death is June- Looking Back in Anger at Slayer's " Reign in Blood"

Continuing with our journey into Slayer's catalog we come upon their most acclaimed album. Giving this album a subjective listen could be hard. So, rather than being swept away by how intense it is, I am going off just songwriting. The fact that 'Angel of Death' opens this album, almsot makes it unfair, as they do not let off the gas until the title track. However, I've always felt a few of the songs almsot feel rushed as it's so fast. "Altar of Sacrifice" is one of the album's underrated songs, and perhaps the best lyrical moment on this album. You can understand why, as a teenager, I was crushed to learn Araya is a Catholic, as he says,'  learn the sacred of praise hail Satan' with such conviction. In fact, when I first heard, I thought, "Why, I think I will". 

Lombardo's drumming makes "Jesus Saves". Some of the darker phrashing in the riffs to this one are also pretty impressive, along with the tight as fuck guitar harmonies. This all compensates for when they really blast off into a blur.  When they get more deliberate for 'Criminally Insane, ' it balances everything out once again, and shows that darker is heavier. 'Reborn' is great lyrically but is another song that feels a little rushed. If you were not cranking "Epidemic" in 2020, then you're a pussy. It's even even better now. 

"Postmortem" is a classic, and it is a song that defines who Slayer became. With this album, they show you can be heavier than hell and still care about writing songs. 'Raining Blood" is one of the most intense metal songs written. He is only after death, and so should take that sentiment to heart; every riff, after the breakdown, is some of the best metal riffs ever. I will go ahead and round this one up to the elusive 11, as it redefined what heavy means, and death metal bands that came after this knew the bar had been raised. 

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