Slayer

Formed in Huntington Park, California in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, Slayer became the most extreme of the Big Four thrash bands. Their 1986 album Reign in Blood — produced by Rick Rubin — is widely considered one of the most influential metal albums ever recorded, clocking in at just under 30 minutes of relentless brutality.

Slayer’s impact on extreme metal cannot be overstated. Their dark themes, breakneck speed, and refusal to compromise inspired the entire death metal and black metal genres that followed. After the death of co-founder Jeff Hanneman in 2013, the band continued before announcing their farewell tour in 2018, concluding with a final show in November 2019.