Editing Slayer (section)

===''Show No Mercy'', ''Haunting the Chapel'' and ''Hell Awaits'' (1983–1986)===
[[File:Jeff Hanneman f9e o.jpg|thumb|[[Jeff Hanneman]] was the guitarist of Slayer for 30 years, from 1981 to 2011. He was the main songwriter along with Kerry King, as well as a lyricist.]]
Without any recording budget, the band had to self-finance its debut album. Combining the savings of Araya, who was employed as a [[respiratory therapy|respiratory therapist]],<ref name="Live Chat with Tom Araya of Slayer">{{cite web|title=Live Chat with Tom Araya of Slayer|publisher=ESPguitars.com|url=http://www.espguitars.com/news/news_tomchat.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112194539/http://www.espguitars.com/news/news_tomchat.html|archive-date=November 12, 2006|access-date=December 10, 2006}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=McIver |first=Joel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UffkZCMjXzoC&dq=tom+araya+respiratory+therapist&pg=PT55 |title=The Bloody Reign of Slayer |date=2009-11-11 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-0-85712-038-0 |language=en}}</ref> and money borrowed from King's father,<ref name="An exclusive oral history of Slayer">{{cite magazine |last=Bennett |first=J. |date=August 2006 |title=An exclusive oral history of Slayer |url=http://www.decibelmagazine.com/features_detail.aspx?id=4566 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813155123/http://www.decibelmagazine.com/features_detail.aspx?id=4566 |archive-date=August 13, 2006 |access-date=February 13, 2018 |magazine=Decibel Magazine |issue=22}}</ref> the band entered the studio in November 1983. The album was rushed into release, stocking shelves three weeks after tracks were completed. ''[[Show No Mercy]]'', released in December 1983 by Metal Blade Records, generated underground popularity for the band. The group began a club tour of California to promote the album. The tour gave the band additional popularity and sales of ''Show No Mercy'' eventually reached more than 20,000 in the US and another 20,000 worldwide.<ref name="INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN SLAGEL">{{cite web |author=German, Eric |title=Interview with Brian Slagel |url=http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewmetalblade.html |access-date=December 4, 2006 |publisher=Metalupdate.com}}</ref>

In February 1984, King briefly joined [[Dave Mustaine]]'s new band [[Megadeth]].<ref name="Megadeth History">{{cite web|title=Megadeth History|publisher=Megadeth.com|url=http://www.megadeth.com/index.php?section=history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119080050/http://www.megadeth.com/index.php?section=history|archive-date=November 19, 2006|access-date=December 10, 2006}}</ref> Hanneman was worried about King's decision, stating in an interview, "I guess we're gonna get a new guitar player."<ref name="An exclusive oral history of Slayer"/> While Mustaine wanted King to stay on a permanent basis, King left after five shows, stating Mustaine's band was "taking too much of my time."<ref name="An exclusive oral history of Slayer"/> The split caused a rift between King and Mustaine, which evolved into a long running feud between the two bands.<ref name="cocksucker">{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=32802 |title=Slayer's Kerry King Says Dave Mustaine is 'A Cocksucker' |date=February 12, 2005 |work=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=October 21, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070318010526/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=32802 |archive-date=March 18, 2007 }}</ref>

In June 1984, Slayer released a three-track [[extended play|EP]] called ''[[Haunting the Chapel]]''. The EP featured a darker, more thrash-oriented style than ''Show No Mercy'', and laid the groundwork for the future direction of the band.<ref name="Slayer : Haunting the Chapel">{{cite web|title=Slayer:Haunting the Chapel|author=Rivadavia, Eduardo|website=AllMusic|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,164341,00.html|access-date=December 1, 2006|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304234807/http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,164341,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The opening track, "Chemical Warfare", has become a live staple, played at nearly every show since 1984.<ref name="Dark Angel">{{cite web|title=Dark Angel|publisher=Voicesfromthedarkside.com|url=http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/interviews/darkangel2.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310192817/http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/interviews/darkangel2.htm|archive-date=2007-03-10|access-date=March 4, 2007}}</ref>

Later that year, Slayer began their first national club tour, traveling in Araya's [[Camaro]] towing a [[U-Haul]] trailer.<ref name="An exclusive oral history of Slayer"/> The band recorded the live album ''[[Live Undead]]'' in November 1984 while in [[New York City]].<ref name=":3" />

{{Listen|filename=Hell Awaits clip.ogg|title="Hell Awaits" (1985)|description="Hell Awaits" features a backwards recording of a demonic voice saying "join us" and "welcome back".}}

In March 1985, Slayer began a national tour with [[Venom (band)|Venom]] and [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]], resulting in their first live [[home video]] dubbed ''Combat Tour: The Ultimate Revenge''. The video featured live footage filmed at the [[Studio 54]] club. The band then made its live European debut at the ''Heavy Sound Festival'' in Belgium opening for [[UFO (band)|UFO]].<ref name="Slayer - Jeff Hanneman">{{cite web|title=Slayer – Jeff Hanneman|author=Lahtinen, Lexi|publisher=Metal-rules.com|date=December 18, 2006|url=http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=737&Itemid=60|access-date=December 27, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016115533/http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=737&Itemid=60|archive-date=October 16, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

''Show No Mercy'' had sold over 40,000 copies,<ref name="INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN SLAGEL"/> which led to the band returning to the studio to record their second full-length album. Metal Blade financed a recording budget, which allowed the band to hire producer [[Ron Fair]].<ref name="An exclusive oral history of Slayer"/> Released in April 1985, Slayer's second full-length album, ''[[Hell Awaits]]'', expanded on the darkness of ''Haunting the Chapel'', with hell and Satan as common song subjects. The album was the band's most [[progressive rock|progressive]] offering, featuring longer and more complex song structures.<ref name="An exclusive oral history of Slayer"/> The intro of the title track is a [[Backmasking|backwards recording]] of a demonic-sounding voice repeating "Join us", ending with "Welcome back" before the track begins. The album was a hit, with fans choosing Slayer for best band and live band, ''Hell Awaits'' as 1985's best album, and Dave Lombardo as best drummer in ''[[Metal Forces]]''{{'}} 1985 Readers Poll.<ref name="Rockdetector Biography - Years 85 to 86">{{cite web|title=Rockdetector Biography – Years 85 to 86 |author=Sharpe-Young, Garry |publisher=Rockdetector.com |url=http://www.rockdetector.com/officialbio,8189.sm |access-date=December 8, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165251/http://www.rockdetector.com/officialbio%2C8189.sm |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref>