Decade of Aggression | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Live album by | ||||
Released | October 22, 1991 | |||
Recorded | July 13, 1991 March 8, 1991 October 14, 1990 | |||
Venue | Lakeland Civic Center (Lakeland, Florida) Orange Pavilion (San Bernardino, California) Wembley Arena (London) | |||
Genre | Thrash metal | |||
Length | 89:17 | |||
Label | Def American | |||
Producer | Rick Rubin | |||
Slayer chronology | ||||
|
Decade of Aggression is a double live album by Slayer, released on October 22, 1991, through Def American Records (later renamed to American Recordings) and produced by Rick Rubin. The album was recorded in three separate places on three separate dates. Its working title was Decade of Decadence until Mötley Crüe registered the name. Three of the album's tracks were included in the box set Soundtrack to the Apocalypse . The album's reception was generally positive, with Entertainment Weekly and Robert Christgau both giving the album a positive rating. The album reached number 55 in the Billboard 200 and also charted on two other charts.
While touring on the Clash of the Titans tour to promote the 1990 studio album Seasons in the Abyss , separate sections of the Decade of Aggression album were recorded on October 14, 1990, March 8, 1991, and July 13, 1991, however, AllMusic said that Rick Rubin's production "seems to be in terms of shaping the live sound to make it sound like this is all one gig." Although it had a working title of Decade of Decadence, it would be released as Decade of Aggression after Mötley Crüe copyrighted the name on their 1991 greatest hits album. [1] It was released through Def American Recordings on October 22, 1991. [2] [3]
The main disc was [disc] one and then we had other songs that we played a different night that we added to the package, and that was our first live experience, the first anyone could have Slayer live unless it was a tape-trading kind of thing from way back when. So it was kinda cool, you know, we were proud of it.
The release was intended to give them time to decide what their next album's style would be. [5] Text in the book The Great Rock Discography said that it was released after the band had gained popularity, saying "Slayer had finally made it into the metal big league and summing up the first blood-soaked chapter of their career, the group duly released the live double set." [6] It was also released to commemorate their 10th anniversary. [7]
The album does not feature an overdub of guitars. In The Rough Guide To Rock, it was said to be "intense" and "put studio favorites through the live shredder in a brutal and definitive manner." [8] Most of the tracks were a selection from South of Heaven , Reign in Blood , and Seasons in the Abyss . [9] The album's total duration is one hour, twenty-five minutes, and twenty-eight seconds (85:28). [9] Three of the album's tracks were included in the box set Soundtrack to the Apocalypse . [10]
The album booklet includes a photo gallery with pictures dating back to 1982. The majority of the photos come from Kevin Estrada, who has said:
Usually I choose my favorite shots that I've taken, and then I give them to the band and they choose the ones they like best. It's funny, because you'd think Slayer would have a definite vision for what they want to do with the photos, but they don't. I say 'What do you want to do?' and they say 'I don't know, what do you want to do?' But it works well, because everything I do they're happy with. They like to work quick — they don't want to do any two-hour photo shoots — and our personalities work really well, because I work quickly too. [11]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [9] |
Entertainment Weekly | B− [12] |
Q | [13] |
Robert Christgau | [14] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [15] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 5/10 [16] |
Thom Jurek, a staff writer for AllMusic, [17] gave the album a rating of three out of five stars. Jurek gave notice to the album's sound quality, telling readers that it does not "capture the sheer overblown intensity of the unit in a concert setting," but that it comes closer than one may imagine. [9] Jurek also gave note to how Rick Rubin made the two-discs sound like it were recorded at one gig, writing "Producer Rick Rubin stays out of the way; his production seems to be in terms of shaping the live sound to make it sound like this is all one gig." [9] Entertainment Weekly 's David Browne said that it was an "accurate aural snapshots of what it's like to be part of a crowd craning to see the action on a stage that seems two miles away." [12] Browne also said that "they're perfect examples of the sad current state of the once-proud live rock album." [12] Robert Christgau gave the album a star ("Honorable Mention is a worthy effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well like."), [18] saying, "praise the Lord—I can hardly understand a word they're singing (Hell Awaits)." [14] Joel McIver, author of The Bloody Reign of Slayer said that it was regarded as one of the best live albums released by a heavy metal band. [19]
The album charted on three different charts. On November 9, 1991, it peaked at number 55 on the Billboard 200. [20] On January 13, 1992, the album entered the Media Control Charts. It peaked at number 35. It maintained a number on the chart until February 2, 1992, giving it a total of three weeks on the chart. [21] On December 2, 1991, it entered the UK Album Charts, peaking at number 29. It stayed on the chart for two weeks. [22]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hell Awaits" | Kerry King |
| 6:50 |
2. | "The Anti-Christ" | Hanneman |
| 3:50 |
3. | "War Ensemble" |
| Hanneman | 4:58 |
4. | "South of Heaven" | Araya | Hanneman | 4:25 |
5. | "Raining Blood" |
| Hanneman | 2:32 |
6. | "Altar of Sacrifice" | King | Hanneman | 2:48 |
7. | "Jesus Saves" | King |
| 4:12 |
8. | "Dead Skin Mask" | Araya | Hanneman | 4:58 |
9. | "Seasons in the Abyss" | Araya | Hanneman | 7:01 |
10. | "Mandatory Suicide" | Araya |
| 4:00 |
11. | "Angel of Death" | Hanneman | Hanneman | 4:52 |
Total length: | 50:26 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hallowed Point" |
|
| 3:36 |
2. | "Blood Red" | Araya | Hanneman | 2:50 |
3. | "Die by the Sword" | Hanneman | Hanneman | 3:35 |
4. | "Black Magic" | King |
| 3:28 |
5. | "Captor of Sin" |
|
| 3:34 |
6. | "Born of Fire" | King |
| 3:03 |
7. | "Postmortem" | Hanneman | Hanneman | 4:04 |
8. | "Spirit in Black" | King | Hanneman | 4:07 |
9. | "Expendable Youth" | Araya | King | 4:36 |
10. | "Chemical Warfare" |
|
| 5:30 |
Total length: | 38:23 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
7. | "Skeletons of Society" | King | King | 4:50 |
8. | "At Dawn They Sleep" |
| Hanneman | 6:26 |
9. | "Postmortem" | Hanneman | Hanneman | 4:04 |
10. | "Spirit in Black" | King | Hanneman | 4:07 |
11. | "Expendable Youth" | Araya | King | 4:36 |
12. | "Chemical Warfare" |
|
| 5:30 |
Total length: | 49:39 |
The album's credits and personnel can be obtained from AllMusic. [25]
|
|
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [26] | 83 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [27] | 83 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [28] | 81 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [29] | 79 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [30] | 35 |
UK Albums (OCC) [31] | 29 |
US Billboard 200 [32] | 55 |
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)...And Justice for All is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on August 25, 1988, by Elektra Records. It was Metallica's first full length studio (LP) album to feature bassist Jason Newsted, following the death of their previous bassist Cliff Burton in 1986. Burton received posthumous co-writing credit on "To Live Is to Die" as Newsted followed bass lines Burton had recorded prior to his death.
Reign in Blood is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on October 07, 1986, by Def Jam Recordings. The album was the band's first collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, whose input helped the band's sound evolve. The release date of the album was delayed because of concerns regarding the lyrical subject matter of the opening track "Angel of Death", which refers to Josef Mengele and describes acts such as human experimentation that he committed at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The band's members stated that they did not condone Nazism and were merely interested in the subject.
South of Heaven is the fourth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on July 5, 1988, by Def Jam Recordings. The album was the band's second collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, whose production skills on their previous album Reign in Blood (1986) had helped their sound evolve. Given the frenetic pace of Reign in Blood, Slayer made no attempt to top it on South of Heaven; rather, the band offset and complemented Reign in Blood by deliberately slowing the tempo down on South of Heaven, as well as by utilizing undistorted guitars and toned-down vocals.
Divine Intervention is the sixth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on September 27, 1994, by American Recordings. The album's production posed a challenge to the label, as its marketing situation drew arguments over its explicitness; to give them time to decide over its style, the band released the live album Decade of Aggression. Since it was released nearly four years after its predecessor Seasons in the Abyss (1990), vocalist Tom Araya said there was more time spent on its production compared to the band's previous albums.
Mama Said is the second studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in April 1991 by Virgin Records. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash co-wrote and played on the song "Always on the Run". He also played on the song "Fields of Joy". The song "All I Ever Wanted" was co-written by Sean Lennon.
Todd Daniel Snider is an American singer-songwriter whose music incorporates elements of folk, rock, blues, alt country, and funk.
Soundtrack to the Apocalypse is a box set by the American thrash metal band Slayer. Released November 25, 2003 through American Recordings, the three–disc CD and DVD set features music from previous albums, unreleased material, and live film. A deluxe edition version was released and featured everything from the standard edition, with the addition of 14 live tracks. The box set's name originated from an alternative title for 2001's God Hates Us All. After discussing among themselves the idea of the box set, the band informed their record company, who initially disliked but later approved the idea. A bonus disc was included in some versions.
Live Undead is the first live album by American thrash metal band Slayer. It was released through Metal Blade Records and recorded in New York City in front of a room of people. It has been questioned by both critics and authors that the audience sound may or may not be faked. However, in 1984, WBAB Fingers Metal Shop, a radio station, held a contest to meet and hang out with Slayer during a live recording. The album was recorded at Tiki Recording Studios in Glen Cove, NY in front of around a dozen people. The album was originally intended to be recorded in front of a live audience, but things went wrong. Nevertheless, when asked if they were fake, producer Bill Metoyer said, "I don't know if I should tell you." The album begins with an extended introduction of "Black Magic", followed by a small speech. The remaining tracks include both those of 1983's Show No Mercy and 1984's Haunting the Chapel.
Diabolus in Musica is the eighth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on June 9, 1998, by American Recordings. Guitarist Jeff Hanneman wrote most of the album's content, which has been described as Slayer's most experimental. It was the band's first album to be played mostly in C♯ tuning, and named after a musical interval known for its dissonance. Lyrical themes explored on the album include religion, sex, cultural deviance, death, insanity, war, and homicide.
Orgasmatron is the seventh studio album by English rock band Motörhead, released in July 1986 by GWR Records, the band's first album with the label.
Jack Johnson is a studio album and soundtrack by the American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Miles Davis. It was released on February 24, 1971, by Columbia Records.
Rock 'n' Roll is the eighth studio album by English rock band Motörhead, released in August 1987. It is their last album with the GWR label, as more legal issues embroiled the band with yet another label. Reaching only No. 34 in the UK Albums Chart, Rock 'n' Roll was, in that respect, the worst performing of all of Motörhead's top 40 chart hits.
Electric is the third album by British rock band the Cult, released in 1987. It was the follow-up to their commercial breakthrough Love. The album equalled its predecessor's chart placing by peaking at number four in the UK but exceeded its chart residency, spending a total of 27 weeks on the chart.
Gimme Back My Bullets is the fourth studio album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on February 2, 1976. Produced by Tom Dowd, it reached number 20 on the U.S. albums chart and was certified gold on January 20, 1981, by the RIAA.
Christ Illusion is the tenth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on August 8, 2006 by American Recordings. It was the band's first album featuring all four original members in nearly sixteen years. Slayer's drummer, Dave Lombardo, performed with the band for the first time since Seasons in the Abyss (1990).
Radio One is a live album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. It was released posthumously in November 1988 by Rykodisc and compiles tracks recorded between February and December 1967 for broadcasts by BBC Radio. The album peaked at number 30 on the UK Albums Chart while it charted at number 119 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. After Hendrix's family gained control of his legacy, Radio One was supplanted by the more comprehensive BBC Sessions in 1998.
World Painted Blood is the eleventh studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. It was released through American Recordings and Sony Music on November 3, 2009 and was produced by Greg Fidelman and executively produced by Rick Rubin. It is the band's only album produced by Greg Fidelman and the last album to feature the band’s original lineup including guitarist Jeff Hanneman and drummer Dave Lombardo. With much anticipation for the album after 2006's Christ Illusion, members of Slayer began revealing information about the album beginning in early 2009.
The Vinyl Conflict is a box set by the thrash metal band Slayer, released October 12, 2010. It includes all ten of Slayer's studio albums since 1986 and their 1991 live album Decade of Aggression. The idea of releasing a second box set was made public in August 2010. It was first released with a price of $199.99. The albums are all in vinyl and are remastered. It received generally positive reception from critics.
Repentless is the twelfth and final studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on September 11, 2015. This is the band's only album recorded without guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died from liver cirrhosis in 2013 and was replaced by Gary Holt. It is also the first album to feature drummer Paul Bostaph since God Hates Us All (2001). Repentless is also the only album the band released on Nuclear Blast and was produced by Terry Date, replacing Rick Rubin after twenty-nine years and nine studio albums as their producer or executive producer. The six-year gap between World Painted Blood (2009) and Repentless was also the longest between two Slayer albums in their career.
Seasons in the Abyss is the fifth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on October 9, 1990, through Def American Records. Recording sessions began in March 1990 at Hit City West and Hollywood Sound, and ended in June 1990 at The Record Plant in Los Angeles, California. It was the band's last album to feature their full original lineup with drummer Dave Lombardo until his return on the band's 2006 album Christ Illusion. Seasons in the Abyss' musical style has been compared by critics to the band's previous two albums, South of Heaven (1988) and Reign in Blood (1986).