Reign in Blood is a speed metal album by thrash metal band Slayer, released in 1986 (see 1986 in music) through Def Jam Records (later re-released on Rubin's Def American/American Recordings). The album's lyrics are almost unprecedented in their depictions of graphic violence; the music is more abrasive and faster than anything that had been released up to this point, a fact which widened the gap between thrash metal and punk rock. The album's influence has been most pronounced on the American death metal scene which developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, though it is also a seminal album of the speed metal genre. Produced by Rick Rubin, Reign in Blood largely abandoned the prog-influenced stylings of Hell Awaits for quick beats and a runtime of just under half an hour. Columbia Records refused to distribute the album but Geffen Records picked it up.

Reign in Blood peaked at #94 on Billboard's (North America) Billboard 200 albums chart. It was named as the "No. 1 Thrash Metal Album of All Time" by Kerrang! magazine. In 2001 Q magazine named it as one of the 50 Heaviest Albums Of All Time. "Raining Blood" was covered by Tori Amos on 2001's Strange Little Girls.

Track listing

1. "Angel of Death" (Hanneman) - 4:50
2. "Piece By Piece" (King) - 2:02
3. "Necrophobic" (Hanneman/King) - 1:38
4. "Altar Of Sacrifice" (Hanneman/King) - 2:49
5. "Jesus Saves" (Hanneman/King) - 2:49
6. "Criminally Insane" (Hanneman/King) - 2:13
7. "Reborn" (Hanneman/King) - 2:20
8. "Epidemic" (Hanneman/King) - 2:12
9. "Postmortem" (Hanneman) - 2:44
10. "Raining Blood" (Hanneman/King) - 4:23

The Re-Issue added "Aggressive Perfector" and "Criminally Insane (Remix)".

Personnel

• Slayer - Producer
• Tom Araya - Bass, Vocals
• Jeff Hanneman - Guitar
• Kerry King - Guitar
• Dave Lombardo - Drums
• Rick Rubin - Producer
• Andy Wallace - Engineer
• Howie Weinberg - Mastering
• Steve Byram - Design

Chart position

1987 Reign In Blood        The Billboard 200        No. 94