Slayer are rolling out fortieth anniversary reissues of their seminal album Hell Awaits.
A field set, 2-LP blood-filled vinyl urgent, and CD will ship Might fifteenth by way of Metallic Blade Data, which launched the unique album within the US again in April 1985. A digital model may even be accessible.
“It’s the file the place Slayer turned Slayer,” said guitarist Kerry King in a press launch.
Probably the most eye-catching of the bodily editions is the blood-filled urgent. Restricted to 666 copies, this 2-LP version options audio mastered and restored from unique 1985 manufacturing tapes by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony in February 2025. Whereas it’s positive to be a future collectible for its restricted run, a duplicate will set you again a whopping $189.
The field set is definitely cheaper at $124.99 and features a single-LP Fireplace Splatter coloured urgent of Hell Awaits utilizing Engel’s restored grasp, together with the 2-LP beforehand unreleased “Stay from Bochum 1985” recording — an 18-song stay set. The field additionally homes a 60-page LP-size e book and myriad ephemera: a duplicate ticket from the Bochum present; reproduction “Hell Awaits Tour” laminate; “Hell Awaits Tour” poster (German dates); slipmat; posters; reproduction merch flyer; reproduction Satanic Wehrmacht e-newsletter; and two flyers.
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Those that simply need the audio at a less expensive value can go for the CD Earbook version at $84.99. This consists of all of the audio from the vinyl field set, plus a 60-page 11-inch e book and poster.
Launched among the many thrash steel increase of the mid-’80s as Slayer’s sophomore full-length (following the Haunting the Chapel EP in 1984), Hell Awaits stands out within the band’s discography for its prolonged songs and winding preparations. Most tracks on the debut Present No Mercy ran lower than 4 minutes, whereas three of Hell Awaits’ seven tracks attain past the six-minute mark. The album’s sinister environment is taken into account influential to black steel and occult/Satanic excessive steel usually.
“Jeff [Hanneman] and I have been nonetheless attempting to determine who we have been as musicians, and we have been each infatuated with Mercyful Destiny’s Melissa album throughout the writing course of for Hell Awaits,” King stated. “That’s why there’s so few songs and most of ‘em are fairly lengthy. That’s the one time something like that ever occurred with us.”
Pre-orders for the blood-filled vinyl version are ongoing by way of Slayer’s web site. You may pre-order the field set editions by way of Metallic Blade Data’ merch retailer.
Try the digital/CD tracklist under.
Hell Awaits fortieth Anniversary Version Tracklist:
01. Hell Awaits
02. Kill Once more
03. At Daybreak They Sleep
04. Reward Of Loss of life
05. Necrophiliac
06. Crypts Of Eternity
07. Hardening Of The Arteries
08. Hell Awaits (Stay From Bochum 1985)
09. Aggressive Perfector (Stay From Bochum 1985)
10. Captor Of Sin (Stay From Bochum 1985)
11. The Closing Command (Stay From Bochum 1985)
12. Kill Once more (Stay From Bochum 1985)
13. Crypts Of Eternity (Stay From Bochum 1985)
14. Battle Until Loss of life (Stay From Bochum 1985)
15. Necrophiliac (Stay From Bochum 1985)
16. Haunting The Chapel (Stay From Bochum 1985)
17. Hardening Of The Arteries (Stay From Bochum 1985)
18. Black Magic (Stay From Bochum 1985)
19. Die By The Sword (Stay From Bochum 1985)
20. The Antichrist (Stay From Bochum 1985)
21. At Daybreak They Sleep (Stay From Bochum 1985)
22. Present No Mercy (Stay From Bochum 1985)
23. Evil Has No Boundaries (Stay From Bochum 1985)
24. Chemical Warfare (Stay From Bochum 1985)
25. Reward Of Loss of life (Stay From Bochum 1985)
