Across four different decades, Slayer have blazed a trail of unholy thrash metal the likes of which the world will never see again. That the band have become the cultural institution they are with little to no help from mainstream radio or television is surprising; that they have done so with such furious songs about pitch-black satanism, the atrocities of war, and sex murder is downright astounding. And yet Slayer are today a fixture in modern music, to the point where the a film inspired by their music videos will show in cinemas around the world. For those who’ve never carved the band’s name in their arms, Slayer first emerged in the early ’80s as a Venom-worshipping party-thrash act whose 1983 debut was a rollicking celebration of good-timey devil-worship. But by...
