Editing Undisputed Attitude

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2012}}
<!-- Dates in references use year-month-day format. -->
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Undisputed Attitude
| type         = studio
| longtype     = of [[cover songs]]
| artist       = [[Slayer]]
| cover        = Slayer-UndisputedAttitude.jpg
| alt          = 
| released     = {{Start date|1996|5|28}}
| recorded     = January–February 1996
| studio       = {{hlist||[[Capitol Studios|Capitol]] (Hollywood)|Hollywood Sound (Hollywood)}}
| genre        = {{hlist|[[Hardcore punk]]|[[crossover thrash]]<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Axl |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=huUREAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Undisputed+Attitude%22+%22crossover+thrash%22&pg=PA91 |title=Hellraisers: A Complete Visual History of Heavy Metal Mayhem |last2=Krovatin |first2=Christopher |date=2017-10-24 |publisher=Race Point Publishing |isbn=978-0-7603-6182-5 }}</ref><!--Please source genres.-->}}
| length       = 33:01
| label        = [[American Recordings (US)|American]]
| producer     = <!-- Executive producers should not be listed in the infobox per [[WP:NOEXEC]] -->
* [[Dave Sardy]]
* Slayer
| prev_title   = [[Divine Intervention (Slayer album)|Divine Intervention]]
| prev_year    = 1994
| next_title   = [[Diabolus in Musica]]
| next_year    = 1998
}}

'''''Undisputed Attitude''''' is the seventh [[studio album]] by American [[thrash metal]] band [[Slayer]], released on May 28, 1996, by [[American Recordings (US)|American Recordings]]. The album consists almost entirely of covers of [[punk rock]] and [[hardcore punk]] songs, and also includes two tracks written by guitarist [[Jeff Hanneman]] in 1984 and 1985 for a side project called Pap Smear;<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Undisputed Attitude by Slayer |url=https://genius.com/albums/Slayer/Undisputed-attitude |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Genius |language=en}}</ref> its closing track, "Gemini", is the only original track. The cover songs on the album were originally recorded by the bands [[the Stooges]], [[Minor Threat]], [[T.S.O.L.]], [[Dirty Rotten Imbeciles|D.R.I.]], [[D.I. (band)|D.I.]], [[Dr. Know (band)|Dr. Know]], and [[Verbal Abuse]], whose work was prominently featured with the inclusion of cover versions of three of their songs.<ref name=":0" />

''Undisputed Attitude'' peaked at number 34 on the [[Billboard 200|US ''Billboard'' 200]].

==Recording==
''Undisputed Attitude'' was recorded at [[Capitol Studios]] in [[Los Angeles]] with [[Dave Sardy]] as producer and ''[[Reign in Blood]]'' producer [[Rick Rubin]] as executive producer. Recorded in three to four weeks, the album was largely the brainchild of guitarist [[Kerry King]], who stated that the songs chosen were from highly influential bands who "made Slayer what it is".<ref name="Audio interview with Kerry King">{{cite web |title=Audio interview with Kerry King Part 1 and 2 |work=toazted.com |url=http://www.toazted.com/interview/100/Slayer.html |access-date=2007-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130075233/http://www.toazted.com/interview/100/Slayer.html |archive-date=2008-01-30}}</ref><ref name=MidwestAraya>{{cite web |title=Midwest Metal Magazine interview with Tom Araya |work=Midwestmetalmagazine.com |url=http://www.midwestmetalmagazine.com/interviewslayer.html |access-date=2007-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208043348/http://www.midwestmetalmagazine.com/interviewslayer.html |archive-date=2008-12-08}}</ref> The album was initially to feature material from classic [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] artists such as [[Judas Priest]], [[UFO (band)|UFO]] and [[Deep Purple]].<ref name=MidwestAraya/> However, after several rehearsals "things didn't pan out" according to King, so the band instead elected to cover punk songs.<ref name="Audio interview with Kerry King"/>

Slayer considered covering 1960s [[psychedelic rock]] band [[the Doors]] as they were an influence to vocalist and bassist [[Tom Araya]]. When asked which track they considered recording, Araya responded, "Maybe '[[When the Music's Over]]', '[[Five to One]]', something like that."<ref name=MidwestAraya/> <!-- This reference sources the previous two sentences. --> A cover of [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]]'s "Rise Above" was suggested by Rubin, although was shelved after the band was not sure how to arrange it musically.<ref name="Audio interview with Kerry King"/>

Guitarist [[Jeff Hanneman]] had written four unreleased songs in 1984–1985 while in the side project Pap Smear with Slayer drummer [[Dave Lombardo]] and [[Suicidal Tendencies]] guitarist [[Rocky George]]. The band chose the best two, namely "Ddamm (Drunk Drivers Against Mad Mothers)" and "Can't Stand You".<ref name=AboutSlayer>{{cite web |title=About |work=Slayer.net |url=http://www.slayer.net/site.php#about |access-date=2007-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311094647/http://www.slayer.net/site.php#about |archive-date=2007-03-11}}</ref><ref name=KNACHanneman>{{cite web |title=A Rare Interview with Slayer Shredder Hanneman, Gripping Firmly onto the Reigns of Metal |author=Davis, Brian |work=Knac.com |date=2004-07-26 |url=http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=3153 |access-date=2007-03-17}}</ref> "Gemini" was written by King and Araya several months before entering the recording studio. King asserts it is the only Slayer song on the album.<ref name="Audio interview with Kerry King"/> The song begins as a [[sludge metal|sludge]]/[[doom metal|doom]] number, before becoming a more typical Slayer song.<ref name=AMGReview>{{cite web |title=''Undisputed Attitude'' |author=Kott, Paul |work=[[AllMusic]] |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=undisputed-attitude-mw0000183530|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=2007-03-18}}</ref>

The band's cover of [[Minor Threat]]'s "Guilty of Being White" raised questions about a possible message of [[white supremacy]]. The controversy involved the changing of the refrain "guilty of being white" to "guilty of being right", at the song's ending. This incensed Minor Threat frontman [[Ian MacKaye]], who stated "that is so offensive to me".<ref>[[Steven Blush|Blush, Steven]], ''[[American Hardcore: A Tribal History]]'' (New York: [[Feral House]], 2001), "Guilty of Being White", in an interview with Ian MacKaye, 30–31.</ref> King said the lyric was altered for "[[tongue-in-cheek]]" humor, saying that the band thought racism was "ridiculous" at the time.<ref name="Audio interview with Kerry King"/>

==Reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="AMGReview"/>
| rev2 = ''[[College Music Journal|CMJ]]''
| rev2score = mixed<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lien |first=James |date=July 1996 |title=Review of Undisputed Attitude |journal=[[College Music Journal]] |issue=35 |page=43}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
| rev3score = 7/10<ref>{{cite book |last1=Popoff |first1=Martin |author-link1=Martin Popoff |title=The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties |publisher=[[Collector's Guide Publishing]] |year=2007 |location=[[Burlington, Ontario]], [[Canada]] |isbn=978-1-894959-62-9 |page=408}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4score = C−<ref name="Music Capsule Review - Undisputed Attitude"/>
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5score = 7/10<ref>{{cite web |last1=Staunton |first1=Terry |title=SLAYER - Undisputed Attitude |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101001093reviews.html |website=[[NME]] |accessdate=13 February 2023 |date=17 August 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817173827/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101001093reviews.html |archive-date=August 17, 2000 }}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Slayer - Album Reviews"/>
}}
''Undisputed Attitude'' was released on May 28, 1996, and peaked at number 34 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite web|title=Slayer's album chart history |work=Billboard.com |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=slayer|chart=all}} |access-date=2007-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930011833/{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=slayer|chart=all}} |archive-date=2007-09-30}}</ref> Paul Kott of [[AllMusic]] commented that "''Undisputed Attitude'', while not perfect, is a fitting tribute to the bands that inspired Slayer to break from the traditional metal mould."<ref name=AMGReview/> Sandy Masuo of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reasoned: "some punk purists will undoubtedly cry foul, but when the dust settles it's hard to argue with Slayer's mettle."<ref name="Slayer - Album Reviews">{{cite magazine |title=Slayer: Undisputed Attitude : Music Reviews |author=Masuo, Sandy |date=1996-05-30 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |page=49 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/slayer/albums/album/298848/review/5944444/undisputed_attitude |access-date=2007-03-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821195924/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/slayer/albums/album/298848/review/5944444/undisputed_attitude |archive-date=2007-08-21}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'s}} Chuck Eddy dubbed Slayer's cover interpretations "generic hardcore-punk", and observed that the group "seem to think that playing as fast and rigidly as possible makes for harder rock -- but it's just lazy shtick."<ref name="Music Capsule Review - Undisputed Attitude">{{cite magazine |title=Undisputed Attitude Review |author=Eddy, Chuck |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=1996-06-21 |url=https://ew.com/article/1996/06/21/undisputed-attitude/ |access-date=2007-12-13 |archive-date=August 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801090940/https://ew.com/article/1996/06/21/undisputed-attitude/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Reviewing 2003 Slayer box set ''[[Soundtrack to the Apocalypse]]'', Adrien Begrand of [[PopMatters]] dismissed the effort as "easily the weakest album in the Slayer catalogue",<ref name="The Devil in Music">{{cite web |title=The Devil in Music |author=Begrand, Adrien |work=PopMatters.com |date=2004-01-23 |url=http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/slayer-soundtrack.shtml |access-date=2007-03-17}}</ref> while ''Westword Online''{{'s}} Michael Roberts dubbed the record their "biggest mistake."<ref>{{cite web |title=Westworld Online interview with Kerry King |author=Roberts, Michael |work=SlayerSaves.com |date=August 2000 |url=http://www.slayersaves.com/interviews_kerry3.htm |access-date=2007-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018174731/http://www.slayersaves.com/interviews_kerry3.htm |archive-date=2006-10-18}}</ref> Araya has since stated that he "knew it wouldn't do very well, people want to hear Slayer! The real die-hards picked up on it and that was expected."<ref name=MidwestAraya/>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline = Standard edition
| extra_column = Original artist
| title1   = Disintegration/Free Money
| writer1  = {{hlist|Eric Mastrokalos|Brett Dodwell|Roy Hansen}}
| extra1   = [[Verbal Abuse (band)|Verbal Abuse]]
| length1  = 1:41
| title2   = Verbal Abuse/Leeches
| writer2  = {{hlist|Mastrokalos|Dodwell|Hansen}}
| extra2   = Verbal Abuse
| length2  = 1:58
| title3   = Abolish Government/Superficial Love
| writer3  = {{hlist|[[Jack Grisham]]|[[Ron Emory]]|Mike Roche|Todd Barnes}}
| extra3   = [[T.S.O.L.]]
| length3  = 1:48
| title4   = Can't Stand You
| writer4  = [[Jeff Hanneman]]
| extra4   = Pap Smear
| length4  = 1:27
| title5   = DDAMM (Drunk Drivers Against Mad Mothers)
| writer5  = [[Jeff Hanneman]]
| extra5   = Pap Smear
| length5  = 1:01
| title6   = Guilty of Being White
| writer6  = [[Ian MacKaye]]
| extra6   = [[Minor Threat]]
| length6  = 1:07
| title7   = I Hate You
| writer7  = {{hlist|Mastrokalos|Dodwell|Hansen}}
| extra7   = Verbal Abuse
| length7  = 2:16
| title8   = Filler/I Don't Want to Hear It
| writer8  = {{hlist|MacKaye|[[Lyle Preslar]]|[[Brian Baker (musician)|Brian Baker]]|[[Jeff Nelson (musician)|Jeff Nelson]]}}
| extra8   = Minor Threat
| length8  = 2:28
| title9   = Spiritual Law
| writer9  = [[Casey Royer]]
| extra9   = [[D.I. (band)|D.I.]]
| length9  = 3:00
| title10  = Mr. Freeze
| writer10 = Kyle Toucher
| extra10  = [[Dr. Know (band)|Dr. Know]]
| length10 = 2:24
| title11  = Violent Pacification
| writer11 = {{hlist|Spike Cassidy|Kurt Brecht}}
| extra11 = [[Dirty Rotten Imbeciles|D.R.I.]]
| length11 = 2:38
| title12  = Richard Hung Himself
| writer12 = {{hlist|Royer|Fredric Taccone}}
| extra12  = D.I.
| length12 = 3:22
| title13  = I'm Gonna Be Your God
| note13   = "[[I Wanna Be Your Dog]]"
| writer13 = {{hlist|[[Iggy Pop|James Osterberg]]|[[Ron Asheton]]|[[Scott Asheton]]|[[Dave Alexander (musician)|David Alexander]]}}
| extra13  = [[The Stooges]]
| length13 = 2:58
| title14  = Gemini
| writer14 = {{hlist|[[Kerry King]]|[[Tom Araya]]}}
| extra14  = [[Slayer]]
| length14 = 4:53
| total_length = 33:01
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = European edition
| extra_column = Original artist
| title10  = Sick Boy
| writer10 = {{hlist|Colin "Jock" Blyth|Colin Abrahall|Ross Lomas}}
| extra10  = [[GBH (band)|GBH]]
| note10 = bonus track
| length10 = 2:14
| title11  = Mr. Freeze
| writer11 = Toucher
| extra11  = Dr. Know
| length11 = 2:24
| title12  = Violent Pacification
| writer12 = {{hlist|Cassidy|Brecht}}
| extra12  = D.R.I.
| length12 = 2:38
| title13  = Richard Hung Himself
| writer13 = {{hlist|Royer|Traccone}}
| extra13  = D.I.
| length13 = 3:22
| title14  = I'm Gonna Be Your God
| note14   = "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
| writer14 = {{hlist|Osterberg|Asheton|Asheton|Alexander}}
| extra14  = The Stooges
| length14 = 2:58
| title15  = Gemini
| writer15 = {{hlist|King|Araya}}
| extra15  = Slayer
| length15 = 4:53
| total_length = 35:15
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese edition
| extra_column = Original artist
| title10  = Sick Boy
| writer10 = {{hlist|Blyth|Abrahall|Lomas}}
| extra10  = GBH
| note10 = bonus track
| length10 = 2:14
| title11  = Mr. Freeze
| writer11 = Toucher
| extra11  = Dr. Know
| length11 = 2:24
| title12  = Violent Pacification
| writer12 = {{hlist|Cassidy|Brecht}}
| extra12  = D.R.I.
| length12 = 2:38
| title13  = Memories of Tomorrow
| writer13 = {{hlist|[[Mike Muir]]|Louiche Mayorga}}
| extra13  = [[Suicidal Tendencies]]
| note13 = bonus track
| length13 = 0:54
| title14  = Richard Hung Himself
| writer14 = {{hlist|Royer|Traccone}}
| extra14  = D.I.
| length14 = 3:22
| title15  = I'm Gonna Be Your God
| note15   = "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
| writer15 = {{hlist|Osterberg|Asheton|Asheton|Alexander}}
| extra15  = The Stooges
| length15 = 2:58
| title16  = Gemini
| writer16 = {{hlist|King|Araya}}
| extra16  = Slayer
| length16 = 4:53
| total_length = 36:09
}}

==Personnel==
===Slayer===
* [[Tom Araya]] – bass, vocals
* [[Kerry King]] – guitars
* [[Jeff Hanneman]] – guitars
* [[Paul Bostaph]] – drums<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=186710 |title=Drummer Jon Dette: 'To Be Part Of The Slayer History Again Is Awesome |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=2013-02-25 |archive-date=March 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301045616/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=186710 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Production and artwork===
* Dave Sardy – [[Record producer|producer]], [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
* [[Rick Rubin]] – [[executive producer]]
* Greg Gordon – [[Audio engineering|engineer]]
* Ralph Cacciurri; Bryan Davis; Jim Giddens; Bill Smith – assistant engineers
* Stephen Marcussen – [[Audio mastering|mastering]]
* [[Wes Benscoter]] – artwork, illustrations
* Dennis Keeley – photography
* Michael Lavine – front cover photo, photography
* Dirk Walter – art direction, design

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"|Chart (1996)
! scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|16|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Austria|43|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|38|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|44|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Canada|40|chartid=3012|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|33|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Finland|27|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|France|43|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|45|id=9115|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Oricon|37|M|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/97164/products/57058/1/
|publisher=Oricon.co.jp|access-date=November 8, 2023|rowheader=true|}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|22|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|51|date=19960526|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|20|artist=Slayer|album=Undisputed Attitude|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|31|date=19960526|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|UKRock|5|date=19960526|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|34|artist=Slayer|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Slayer}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Albums produced by Rick Rubin]]
[[Category:1990s covers albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Dave Sardy]]
[[Category:Albums with cover art by Wes Benscoter]]
[[Category:1996 compilation albums]]
[[Category:Slayer compilation albums]]
[[Category:American Recordings (record label) compilation albums]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Capitol Studios]]