Thrash metal legends Slayer are celebrating 40 years of their 1985 sophomore album Hell Awaits with a massive anniversary reissue slated for May 15th via Metal Blade Records. The release follows the launch of the new Slaytanic Verses online exhibit and will include an array of deluxe formats for fans and collectors.
A highlight of the reissue is a previously unreleased live recording from Zeche, Bochum, Germany, captured on June 18th, 1985. The album itself has been fully remastered and restored by Patrick W. Engel. Reflecting on the album, guitarist Kerry King stated:
“It’s the record where Slayer became Slayer. Jeff [Hanneman] and I were still trying to figure out who we were as musicians, and we were both infatuated with Mercyful Fate‘s Melissa album during the writing process for Hell Awaits. That’s why there’s so few songs and most of ’em are pretty long. That’s the only time anything like that ever happened with us.”
Formats for the 40th Anniversary Edition:
Vinyl Box Set (3 LPs total):
- 7-track Hell Awaits + 18-track live bonus audio (Live from Bochum 1985)
- 60-page 12″ book
- Hell Awaits gatefold sleeve LP mastered from original 1985 tapes
- Fire Splatter vinyl
- Bochum live 2xLP
- Replica tickets, tour laminate, posters, flyers, slipmat, and band memorabilia
“Blood” Filled Liquid Vinyl (Slayer store exclusive – 666 copies worldwide):
- 7-track Hell Awaits mastered from original tapes
- Liquid “blood” vinyl in gatefold sleeve
CD Earbook:
- 3xCDs: 7-track album + 18 live tracks
- 60-page 11″ book and poster
Digital Edition:
- 7-track album + 18-track live audio
40th Anniversary Track Listing Highlights:
- Original album: Hell Awaits, Kill Again, At Dawn They Sleep, Praise Of Death, Necrophiliac, Crypts Of Eternity, Hardening Of The Arteries
- Live from Bochum 1985: 18 tracks including Aggressive Perfector, The Final Command, Show No Mercy, and Chemical Warfare
Pre-orders are available at metalblade.com/slayer.
Slayer established themselves as one of the “Big Four” of thrash metal before concluding their farewell tour in 2019. The band reunited in 2024 for select appearances and currently have one confirmed 2026 show: a stop at the 10/24 Sick New World Festival in Fort Worth, TX, where they’ll celebrate the 40th anniversary of 1986’s landmark Reign In Blood.
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