Talkin' Slayer: A Metal Podcast and Half-@ssed Audiobook

Hey, all. This is another Linkisode... which is to say it's not a real episode.

The true content is in the following link, which is a full video of Slayer's most destructive, insane, infamous, legendary concert ever. Mass psychosis? Total bedlam. It's from the South of Heaven tour, in New York City, summer 1988:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00bYK3fzY3o&t=64s

Last week, Patreon supporters got a full episode about this show, featuring testimony from eye witnesses, plus other facts and...

This is episode #161 of 55. We are deep in overtime. STILL.

This is your pal Ferris.

Today’s topic is SOUTH OF HEAVEN, the album and the time, plus a blood live show.

Next week, Patreon supporters get to hear about Slayer's definitive, most violent, criminally insane, legendary concert. Sign up for under $1 an episode at Patreon.com/SlayerBook.

DEEZ NOTEZ:

A SEED OF HORROR! The "South of Heaven" demo: JeffHanneman's instrumental 1985 demo that he s...

This is episode #157 of 55. We are deep in overtime. STILL.

This is your pal Ferris.

Today’s topic is the ongoing affair of attrition that wasthe Reign in Blood tour. This week: Dave Lombardo is out, and T.J. Scaglione is in. Spoiler: It doesn’t last long.

Last week, in the shownotes, Patreon supporters got  a link to all four Slayer drummers over the years, playing the “Angel of Death” double bass drum break. And they got another chapter about Reign & blood & the road.

Hey there, true believers & Slaytanic pals.

This is not a proper episode. This is another linkisode.

Tomorrow — Monday — you'll get another full-on episode about Reign in Blood. But for today...

Today's topic -- AGAIN -- is more REIGN IN BLOOD.

Today's content is not in the audio portion. It's in the link below.

Stefan Ekström breaks down Reign in Blood... and plays it too:

⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_8YOysNB5...

Hey there, true believers & Slaytanic pals.

This is not a proper episode. This is another linkisode.

Today's content is not in the audio portion. It's in the link below.

Because I thought it was rad and I wanted to share with you.

This is the kind of thing Patreon supporters get more frequently.

That said, this week, members of the Patreon / Slaytreon also got another episode about the Reign in Blood tours, which forever...

This is episode #153 of 55. We are deep in overtime.

SLAYER IS BACK.

Your pal Ferris delivers a long recap of the band's first live concert of 2026...

...which included the classic thrash album Reign in Blood, in its entirety.

The episode opens with some notes on the Minneapolis/Shakopee openers, plus the Rocklahoma show too.

The blow-by-blow recap of Minneapolis starts around 23:00.

Patreon supporters have access to a series of...

Today's topic is Reign in Blood. In week 3 of many, learn about Blood in America, where the Reign in Blood tours begin. This is the beginning of the end, right here in 1986.

DEEZ NOTEZ: Material referenced in the week's episode...

Slayer & Megadeth thrash spotlight on MTV, 1986. Kerry appears in his "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" outfit. ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDagVjE3V_c⁠

Video: Slayer live at the Ritz, NYC, 6 December 1986. Playing under threat of death! ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBF-j6OVcfc...

Today's topic is Reign in Blood, Part 1 of many: Prelude to the album, plus Enter Into the Realm of Def Jam... Recently inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Rick Rubin enters the chat!

Last week, Patreon supporters got two versions of reviews & analysis of the "Expanded" edition of From Hell I Rise, the debut release by the Kerry King band.

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SlayerBook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Packages start around $1 an episode. You can do that, right?

DEEZ NOTES: Things referenced in this episode...

Audio: Slayer liv...

Today's topic is Hell Worldwide, the international campaign that was the Hell Awaits tour. This episode features my favorite moment from the book... and Slayer's career. All looks lost. And then...

Last week was good episode. But... after episode 9, only Patreon supporters get every weekly episode and bonus shows & content. Free listeners will only get an episode every OTHER week, and they'll miss half the story.

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SlayerBook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Packages start around $1 an episode. You can do that, right?

DEEZ NOTES: Things referenced in this ep...

Today's topic is Live Undead... the shows around it, the album, and the cover art.

After episode 9, only Patreon supporters get every weekly episode and bonus shows & content. Free listeners will only get an episode every OTHER week, and they'll miss half the story.

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SlayerBook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Packages start around $1 an episode. You can do that, right?

DEEZ NOTES: Things referenced in this episode...

The official mini-documentary Fans Rule: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5pn8m5csXA&t=7s

 <...

Today's topic is primal crossover: Slammin' to Slayer... Metal Enters the Pit (Chapter 11). Metal and punk collide. Cuts, bruises, busted bones, and broken noses ensue. And, yeah, it's totally worth it.

After episode 9, only Patreon supporters get every weekly episode and bonus shows & content. Free listeners will only get an episode every OTHER week, and they'll miss half the story.

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SlayerBook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Packages start around $1 an episode. You can do that, right?

DEEZ NOTES: Things referenced in this episode...

The P...

HEY PALS.

Here's a little taste of something I'm doing now, exclusively for Patreon supporters... mostly.

Long story short, it's a new type of mini-episode I'm experimenting with. I'm calling 'em Linkisodes. Until I think of something better.

The true content here isn't what you can listen to. It's what you can click below.

Here's the deal:

1) Linkisodes are normally for Patreon supporters & friends of the program only.

2) They're...

Today's topic is Metal Moonlighting: Slayer team captain Kerry King signs on to play in the very first lineup of Megadeth, briefly apprenticing under one of his heavy metal heroes, Dave Mustaine.

Is Kerry on the way out of his own band? Was it influential for Megadeth? Was it influential for Slayer? The answers are no, no, no, and “Yes, but…”

This week is the final episode that is free for all. After episode 9, only Patreon supporters get every weekly episode and bonus shows & content. Free listeners will only get an...

Today's topic is Slayer's first record deal and album: Show No Mercy, released on the hall of fame metal foundry that is Metal Blade.

VIDEO: Slayer, live, 1983.

Next week is the final episode that is free for all. After episode 9, only Patreon supporters get every weekly episode. Free listeners will only get an episode every OTHER week, and they'll miss more than half the story.

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SlayerBook⁠⁠⁠.

Packages start around $1 an episode. You can do that, right...

Today's topic is the International Day of Slayer... which is today if you're listening in a timely manner.

For the first time, Slayer Day founder Jeff Tandy reveals the myths, facts, and misdirections behind the scenes of your favorite hesher holiday. You pal Ferris interviews Tandy in this co-production between the International Day of Slayer and your favorite metal show, Talkin' Slayer. Ferris covers it in the book... and now he's covering it MORE.

Our new bud Jeff is also the host of underground metal podcast Metalenema. And after...

This is not an episode. Not a proper episode. But...

Today’s topic is some absolutely killer, very old Slayer footage that is bustin’ out all over the internet. This is probably the best Slayer video I have ever seen. And I’ve seen most of it.

It's live footage. It's a long, long interview. It’s live from the Slaytanic inner sanctum. It’s ALL. It’s everything. And it’s from a truly historical junction for the band: in that zero-gravity moment between when Reign in Blood was finished a...

Today's topics are Jeff Hanneman (again), the State of California's billion-dollar thrash incubator, and the hard-partying major ragin' scene that spawned Slayer, Metallica, many a metal throwdown & countless hesher hangovers.

Unless otherwise noted, all sick-arsed riffage and/or music is by in-house rifflord Nige Savage of UK metal band ⁠⁠Chupacabra⁠⁠.

For the next year or so, every week, subscribers get a chapter or two of D.X. Ferris' Slaytanic history book...

"Slayer 66 2/3: A Metal Band Biography... Or, How F*kin' Slayer Kicked Fkin' @ss," REBORN...

AND WE ARE BACK, aces high.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED...

Click here for a video of Ferris unboxing the Hell Awaits 40 megabox set. You axed for it. Here it is.

Anyhow...

Today's topics are GOAT metal drummer Dave Lombardo and Slayer team captain Kerry F.N. King. And where they grew up. And where Slayer came from, the world that shaped the band.

As mentioned on the show: video of Dave Lombardo KILLING IT...

AND WE ARE BACK. The time: two minutes to midnight.

Today's topics are Slayer founder — if not mastermind — Kerry King and frontman Tom Araya.

Unless otherwise noted, all sick-arsed riffage and/or music is by in-house rifflord Nige Savage of UK metal band Chupacabra.

For the next year or so, every week, you get a chapter or two of D.X. Ferris' Slaytanic history book...

"Slayer 66 2/3: A Metal Band Biography... Or, How F*Kin' Slayer Kicked Fkin' @ss," REBORN: The...

AND WE ARE BACK, AND SERIOUSLY LISTENING TO MAIDEN AGAIN, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 80s.

THE RITUAL HAS BEGUN.

Today's topic is Jeff Hanneman.

How did Jeff make the difference in Slayer's art & career?

Listen up and find out.

For the next year or so, every week, you get a chapter or two of D.X. Ferris' Slaytanic history book...

"Slayer 66 2/3: A Metal Band Biography... Or, How...

Talkin' Slayer, Season 4 begins now.

This season kicks off with an all-new tribute to Jeff Hanneman. Today marks the 13th anniversary of his untimely demise. Your host Ferris and some listeners weigh in on why Jeff ruled — no, RULES.

Click here for a previous Jeff episode.

This week is not your typical show. Things return to normalcy (sic) — more or less — next week.

Starting next week, Season IV: Return of the New & Improved will launch into the chronological history of Slayer, as...

- you can read in Ferris' new, improve...

Hey, listeners.

This is the new, uncut, long trailer for Season 4 of Talkin' Slayer, the world's longest one-year podcast.

Season 4 will kick off Saturday, May 2. That date will mark the 13th anniversary of Jeff Hanneman's sad, untimely, depressing demise.

The first episode of the season will be an all-new tribute to Jeff.

But mostly, in season 4, what you will get every week or so, is a chapter from...

The newish 4th edition of Ferris' Slayer band biography, "Slayer 66 2/3: A Metal Band Biography... or, How Fkin' Slayer Kicked Fkin' @ss." <...

Hey, listeners. Here's a seasonal rerun about that most controversial of all the icons in Slayer's mythology of the profane... the Slayer Leprechaun.

But first, there's an update on the show. Season 4 will kick off Saturday, May 2. That date will mark the 13th anniversary of Jeff Hanneman's sad, untimely, depressing demise.

The first episode of the season will be an all-new tribute to Jeff. And we'd like YOU to be part of it.

Listen to the first few minutes of the show to find out how to get your thoughts about Jeff to...

Dateline: January 31, 2026.

Jeff Hanneman would have turned 62 today.

So here's a rerun of a spotlight episode about Jeff. This one looks at his creative output on & after after the polarizing Diabolus in Musica album.

Diabolus was the last Slayer record that Jeff creatively dominated. In my Slayer fan surveys, Diabolus is fans least favorite, by A LOT — like 36% of fans say it's their least favorite.

After this LP, Jeff's counts in the credits take a big dip for a long time. Was it the end of him as a creative force? An...

BACK. This is Talkin' Slayer, episode #88 of 55.

(If you don't count Season 3, which goes to Patreon supporters only.)

Happy holidays if you're holidaying.

Today's topics are:

The new SLAYER 66 2/3... audiobook is here.

I tell you all about it. Then you get some enhanced reruns...

We talk Kerry King.

We talk Jeff Hanneman.

Then we talk Kerry King more.

The SLAYER 66 2/3... audiobook features 12 bonus chapters that are not in the...

Episode #87 of 55.

Today's topic is a show report from Slayer's mini-festival in Hershey, PA 20 September 2025. It was their final show of the year, lucky #6.

The full day of kick-@ss featured sets by Exodus, the Cavalera Conspiracy, Power Trip, Suicidal Tendencies, Knocked Loose, and F.N. Slayer. And I tell ya all about it. Get ready for the sights, the sounds, the scene, the smells, and all the hot sensations.

This is a long episode, nearly 60 minutes. If you just want to hear the Slayer part, jump to the 29-minute mark.

...

Back. We are talkin' Slayer. This week's topic is the Great Hanneman Gear Grab: What happened to Jeff's guitar collection, mostly, and why, and how? Tune in.

And unless you're a Patreon supporter, this is pretty much the end of Talkin' Slayer, Season 2: New Sh*t Has Come To Light. The episode wraps with some details on what's next in coming months.

Plus a few words of gratitude and memoriam for friends past and present. Chris McMaster and Walter Novak RIP.

DEEZ NOTES, as...

This week's topic: We have set lists from the last few shows, with a detailed report from our dude in London, Kevin Gale. BANISHED FROM THIS DYING WORLD, THE LORD OF GALE AWAITS!! It's read by your pal Ferris, who provides some additional commentary.

ALSO...

Video: The entire London set: Not pro shot, sound muffled, but very up-close.

Video: The entire London set: Worse sound, not as close, not bad tho.

Video: Live in Quebec: "Die by the Sword" and "Hell Awaits." Sound isn't great; awesome nonetheless. And that stage show!<...

SHORT SHARP SHOCK MINI-EPISODE

Today's topics are 2) A recap of Slayer's righteous return to the stage 3 July 2025 in Cardiff, Wales... including the setlist. 1) Some speculation on what comes next. And 3) commentary on it all.

DEEZ NOTES, as referenced in the show:

One Slaytanic playlist of pretty much the entire Cardiff show, plus all other video available at the moment, including alternate angles and takes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udwtTElHXPM&list=PLAnZUI4s4LrJHDgS-7EObx_eikCoGeIOu

Episode 61 of Talkin' Slayer, in which I recapped the...

LAST WEEK, Patreon supporters got a super long chapter about the era around World Painted Blood, the final album with musical mastermind Jeff Hanneman.

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC is the Big Four American Thrash Metal Bands. You’re getting  two chapters about the boys... ALL the boys. The rivals. The allies. The frenemies. All of the above. United and strong. Mostly.

Press play and hear the new & improved versions of chapters 43 and 44 from the MONSTORIOUSLY EMBIGGENED unofficial band biography, "Slayer 66 2/3: A Metal Band Biography... or, How F*kin' Slayer Kicked F*kin' @ss," by your pal and...

Today's topic is Christ Illusion, the 2006 reunion album by Slayer's classic lineup. And when it's over, I drop some flowers for the late, great Sacha Jenkins.

DEEZ NOTES

Shownotes... things referenced in the show... mostly:

Audio: From Christ Illusion: “Black Serenade,” original version.

Audio: “Black Serenade,” take 2.

Video: Slayer's Grammy-Winning "Eyes of the Insane"

Audio: Slayer's Grammy-winning "Final Six"

Video: Slayer live at Hammersmith, 2008. HD, up close & personal.

Video: Ill Bill, “U.B.S. (Unauthorized Biography of Slayer).” THE BEST RAP SONG ABOUT SLAYER, PERI...

Talkin' Slayer, Episode 78.5.

JUNE 6 IS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY SLAYER.

And it's Tom Araya's birthday. Happy birthday, Tom! Tom, of course, has the most metal birthdate: 6/6/61.

To commemorate, enjoy these rerun chapters about...

1) The origins of this most momentous holiday. And...

2) Slayer's most infamous show. Manic fans tore up part of the Madison Square Garden complex, then known as the Felt Forum. They couldn't play the city's biggest venue for years afterward.

As an emerging major-label band, Slayer invoked a true mania. What was Slayer capable of at...

Episode 77, The New Chapter 66: Talkin' the Kerry King Band, Again, More... Part 1

As referenced in the show... or not...

UNBOXING VIDEO: Your pal Ferris unboxes the new edition of the book and tells you all about it for 26 minutes.

Episode 57: A long report from the summer 2024 Kerry King-Mastodon concert

Episode 64: A much shorter report from the January 2025 Kerry King headlining show

The Kerry King band's live debut, from Reggie's in Chicago, 7 May 2024

Janky sound: Kerry King LIVE @ UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney (FULL SET), 3 Dec 2024

Co-ed UK...

Talkin' Divine Intervention a Little, Talkin' Undisputed More, Talkin' Diabolus, Talkin' Hell Again

Links to things mentioned — or implied, or not mentioned — in the episode this week.

Click below for...

Kathryn Hanneman's Official Jeff Hanneman feed, featured a Slaytanic slew of reposts from fans worldwide on May 2.

The new & improved & updated & embiggened book Ferris reads from every week, "Slayer 66 2 /3: A Metal Band Biography..., or, How Fkin' Slayer Kicked F*kin' @ss" — all four versions.

LIVE 1995: Live Intrusion, Remastered. Mesa Amphitheatre. Mesa, Arizona. on March 12, 1995.

LIVE 1996: One of my favo...

Today's topic is Jeff Hanneman. This is a long three-part tribute, timed to be here for the 12th anniversary of Jeff's sad, untimely demise.

Talkin' Slayer is a deeply researched podcast that uncovers the history of Slayer, the thrashiest of the Big Four American thrash bands, one episode at a time... sometimes two. Host & award-winning journalist D.X. Ferris has written two books about the band.

Patreon supporters hear an episode every week. Free listeners miss every other episode — and then some. Packages start at under $1 episode. Learn more at Patreon.com/SlayerBook

If...

Todays's topics include a detailed look at Rick Rubin, Slayer's enigmatic longtime producer, executive producer, label boss, and benefactor. Stay tuned, and you'll learn more about how the band made Reign in Blood... what fans think about it... what Jeff said about the, ahem, German content in "Angel of Death"... an update on what happened to the long-lost album cover artwork... and more.

The old version of the Reign In Blood chapter is the most popular episode after the Jeff Hanneman tributes. Now that chapter is bigger and better. And badder. And deffer. This week, you hear...

This episode is different kind of show. Today's topic is the Slaytanic Survey results as of October 28, 2024. It's a long chapter with a lot of numbers. What are your favorite tunes and records? How does you opinion compare to everybody else? Tune and find out.

If this sounds boring, and you’re jonesin' for your weekly fix of Slaytanic history, worry not. Check THIS out:

Original Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo drops all kind of great Slayer history of Brian Slagel's podcast, 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal. Slagel's co-host is world-champion metal author Martin Popoff. Listen ⁠HERE...

⁠Patreon supporters⁠ hear an episode every week. Free listeners get one every other week.

(Chapter 12, Part 2 + bonus Slaytanic speculation)

DEEZ NOTES...

SLAYTANIC SURVEYS
The Slaytanic Surveys close March 31. Take them while you can. Following are the survey links. No registration necessary. They're all multiple choice questions. It only takes a minute.

⁠1) The Slaytanic Survey (Round 2): Tell us about your favorite songs and albums.⁠⁠⁠⁠ SurveyMonkey.com/r/7YRH76S⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠2) The OTHER Slayantic Survey (Round 1): Who is Slayer's MVP? What was their best tour? Do you see the reunion coming? What's your LEAST favorite...

Back. Welcome to Talkin' Slayer, Season 2: "New Sh*t Has Come to Light."

Season 2 presents the larger highlights from the new, extensively revised, massively expanded, thoroughly updated unofficial book that is SLAYER 66 2/3: A METAL BAND BIOGRAPHY... (4th Edition: Reborn + Re-Remastered).

Maybe you heard these chapters last time. But now they're bigger and better.

Today's topic is "Metalstorm... Meet Slayer." I read you substantially, deeply researched profiles of the four founding members of Slayer. Who are Slayer? Well, lemme tell ya...

Talkin' Slayer has returned with new, regular, normal, weekly shows. Well...

Back. Welcome to Talkin' Slayer, Season 2: "New Sh*t Has Come to Light."

Season 2 presents the larger highlights from the new, extensively revised, massively expanded, thoroughly updated unofficial book that is SLAYER 66 2/3: A METAL BAND BIOGRAPHY... (4th Edition: Reborn + Re-Remastered).

Today's topic is The New York Invasion, Part 1. Before Slayer recorded the classic album Live Undead, the band and fans laid waste to Long Island's Rio Theater and the surrounding sleepy suburban shopping district... or did they? Hear all about the show, the pre-game festivities, and the post-concert chaos.

Talkin' Slayer has returned...