South of Heaven
| SlayerSouth of Heaven
South of Heaven is the fourth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on July 5, 1988 by Def Jam Recordings. The album was the band's second collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, whose production skills on their previous album Reign in Blood(1986) had helped their sound evolve. In order to offset the pace of its predecessor, Slayer deliberately slowed down the tempo on South of Heaven, and utilized undistorted guitars and toned-down vocals. South of Heaven was the band's last album released by Def Jam, although the rights were transferred to Rubin's new label Def American Recordings after Rubin ended his partnership with Russell Simmons. The album was one of only two Def Jam titles to be distributed by Geffen Records through Warner Bros., as Def Jam's then-distributor Columbia refused to release work by the band. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Sputnik Music
South Of Heaven begins with an absolutely stellar trilogy of songs, but with the tepid "Behind The Crooked Cross", the album hits its first speed bump, with riffs that fail to hook and a very inadequate, ill-advised attempt at clean "singing" by Araya, who just sounds kind of bored here.
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The Metal Archives
Slayer never made a better overall album than South of Heaven.
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Kerrang!
South Of Heaven forever marks the point where Slayer became a band whose music was truly steeped in all things twisted and evil.
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Worship Metal
South Of Heaven……30 years of a thrash classic that seems to only get better with age!
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Metal Storm
They never lost their attitude, not even to this day, but they showed a different side on this album. They proved they were here to stay and they were full of ideas. This album is sure to keep you entertained for quite awhile. This is a must for all metal fans.
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All Music
The group's sincerity is the thing that makes South of Heaven so disturbing and powerful -- when the influential thrashers rip into such morbid fare as "Spill the Blood," "Mandatory Suicide," and "Ghosts of War," they are frighteningly convincing.
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Spinditty
Overall South of Heaven is a very good album that helped Slayer finish off the decade of the 1980’s in pretty strong fashion.
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Head of Metal
South of Heaven still has plenty of speedy moments. Even in metal, you don’t hear too many songs about abortion–let alone good ones. But “Silent Scream” passes both tests!
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Metal Forces Magazine
If you’re a diehard Slayer fan that doesn’t mind hearing something a bit less speed-heavy from time to time, you will love South Of Heaven, but if you’re expecting to hear Reign In Blood Part Two, you’ll be in for a major disappointment. Buy or die!!!
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Sentinel Daily
South of Heaven Slayer’s most ambitious and mature work ever.
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No Clean Singing
There isn’t a forgettable song on here, it’s all killer no filler back-to-front, and is unapologetically bleeding piss-and-vinegar attitude, radiating darkness and hatred in equal measure. This album slays.
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Head Heritage
This is the f***in' ROCK, dude. You can't play it loud enough!
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Death Metal Underground
South of Heaven is to my mind such an album because it hits on all levels. Crushing riffs: check. Intense abstract structures: check. Overall feeling of darkness, power, evil, foreboding and all the things forbidden in daylight society: check.
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Metal Reviews
South Of Heaven sounds completely original even over twenty years later. Hundreds or maybe even thousands of bands have attempted to clone Slayer’s sound, and none have even come close. The band is THAT great.
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Metal Odyssey
This is one Thrash Metal album that I can never get enough of, from a Grammy winning band that helped create and originate this genre.
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Prindle Record Reviews
It's definitely not as intense as the last couple of albums, but the songs are great.
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Ultimate Guitar
I can honestly say the lyrics side of this album is flawless.
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Chronicles of Times
I think the thing I like about this album is that every single song makes me think about dancing around in a circle throwing a few elbows.
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Metal-Fi
If you’re a metal fan and you have a turntable, you need to own this album. Do it. Now.
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