Slayer's second studio album, "Hell Awaits," will be released next spring as a 40th-anniversary edition via Metal Blade Records. Formed in 1981, the band defined not only a genre with their extreme mix of metal and punk, but also an uncompromising attitude. According to guitarist Kerry King, "Hell Awaits" is the album "that made Slayer Slayer." Compared to their debut album, "Show No Mercy," the band's sound here is significantly more mature: more complex, progressive, and aggressive. Released in 1985, "Hell Awaits" was a highlight of a thrash metal year filled with important debuts (including Megadeth, Exodus, and Kreator). Heavily influenced by Mercyful Fate, Slayer experimented with longer, more sophisticated song structures—a unique creative approach for them. 3 CDs – the 7-track Hell Awaits album + 18 live bonus tracks (Live From Bochum 1985): • Hell Awaits Album (1xCD), mastered and restored from the original 1985 production tapes by Patrick W. Engel at the Temple Of Disharmony in February 2025 • Live From Bochum 1985 (2xCD) – 18 live tracks that have never before been released physically or digitally. • 60-page book in 11" format • Poster New product