Slayer

USA, 1981–2019

Californian band and part of thrash metal's Big Four. Tom Araya, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman. Reign in Blood is one of the genre's most intense and technically demanding albums.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Slayer and 11 artists Slayer influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Slayer?

• Iron Maiden — King and Hanneman began by playing Iron Maiden and Judas Priest covers — the NWOBHM was Slayer's documented starting point.
• Judas Priest — Priest's twin-guitar attack and metallic precision were the direct template for early Slayer sets.

Which artists did Slayer influence?

• Pantera — The turn away from glam. Anselmo dates his own conversion to Dimebag playing him 'At Dawn They Sleep'.
• Avenged Sevenfold — The band named Slayer a direct influence on the aggression and speed of their early metalcore records.
• System of a Down — Slayer's speed and darkness are a documented touchstone for SOAD's thrash side — the bands later toured together.
• Slipknot — Slipknot's members have consistently named Slayer the benchmark of extremity they measured Iowa against.
• At the Gates — At the Gates forged melodic death metal from thrash — Slayer's speed and aggression are at the root of the Gothenburg sound.
• Lamb of God — Slayer's relentless thrash speed and aggression run through Lamb of God's brutal attack.
• Killswitch Engage — Slayer's thrash aggression underpins the heavier, breakdown-driven side of Killswitch Engage.
• Sepultura — Slayer's ferocious thrash is a foundational influence on Sepultura's early speed and aggression.
• Fear Factory — Slayer's extreme thrash speed underlies Fear Factory's brutal, staccato riffing.
• Machine Head — Slayer's aggression is part of the thrash bedrock beneath Machine Head's sound.
• Bullet for My Valentine — Cited by the band among their main influences, with Metallica, Iron Maiden and Pantera.