"Hell Awaits" is the second studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released in April 1985. This album was the band's debut on Metal Blade Records. More complex than their previous work, this album is often considered their first contribution to the thrash metal genre. It was also the band's first to feature band-designed cover art.
The seven-track, 37-minute long album represents a dark and more aggressive musical style than the band's debut, incorporating Satanic themes and a heavier sound. It's notable for its graphic lyrics, which led to the band facing censorship issues in later stages of their career. Songs on the album, like "At Dawn They Sleep" and "Kill Again", are frequently highlighted as stand-outs.
"Hell Awaits" is regarded as a classic in the thrash metal genre and has been acknowledged for influencing heavy metal and extreme metal music overall. At the time of its release, however, it did not make a significant commercial impact. It wasn't until the success of their subsequent albums that Slayer achieved mainstream popularity.
The album showcased a significant evolution for the band, as they began to build a reputation for exploring dark and shocking subject matter, thus forming the distinctive aggressive style they're known for today. The band members are often credited for their instrumental proficiency on this album, featuring fast, intricate guitar riffs and solos, and complex song structures. Despite its initial mixed reception, "Hell Awaits" now holds a cult status among fans and critics alike.
