Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, founded in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo, and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer’s aggressive musical style propelled them to become one of the ‘big four’ bands of thrash metal, standing alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. The band’s final lineup included King, Araya, drummer Paul Bostaph, and guitarist Gary Holt, who became a permanent member after the passing of Hanneman in 2013. Additionally, drummer Jon Dette was a member at one point.
In their original formation, King, Hanneman, and Araya were the primary contributors to Slayer’s lyrics, with King and Hanneman composing all the band’s music. Despite facing controversy and criticism for their lyrics and album art covering dark themes like serial killers, torture, and terrorism, Slayer’s music has had a profound impact on the thrash metal genre and beyond. Their third album, Reign in Blood (1986), is renowned as one of the most influential and heaviest thrash metal albums ever. Slayer’s discography includes twelve studio albums, three live albums, and multiple awards, with four studio albums achieving gold certification in the US. The band sold over 5 million albums in the US from 1991 to 2013, earning them five Grammy Award nominations and winning twice in 2007 and 2008 for tracks from their album Christ Illusion. Despite officially disbanding after a farewell tour, Slayer has reunited for select reunion performances post-2024.