Slayer
Thrash's most pitiless institution — tritones, air-raid solos, and a rhythm section that never once let up, 'Raining Blood' as closing rite.
Slayer formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981, and became one of the defining American thrash metal bands alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. The line-up centred on guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, bassist and vocalist Tom Araya, and drummer Dave Lombardo. Their music is marked by fast tempos, dissonant tritone-heavy riffing, chaotic solos and lyrics dealing with war, violence and religion.
The 1986 album Reign in Blood, and its closing track 'Raining Blood', remain the band's best-known work and a reference point for extreme metal. Hanneman died in 2013, and Slayer performed a farewell tour that concluded in 2019, later returning for selected shows.
Festivals Slayer is playing
Slayer at a glance
What festivals is Slayer playing in 2026?
Slayer is booked at 1 festival: Sick New World Texas 2026.
Is Slayer playing Sick New World Texas 2026?
Yes — Slayer is on the Sick New World Texas 2026 lineup, October 24, 2026 at Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX. They play Saturday, October 24.
Where is Slayer from?
Slayer is from Huntington Park, CA.
What kind of music does Slayer play?
Slayer is tagged thrash-metal.
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