Slayer – Show No Mercy

Originally released: 3rd December 1983 in the US by Metal blade Records.

Slayer was the opening act for Metal Massacre Volume III and the band agreed. This appearance created underground buzz, which led to Slagel g contract the band with Metal Blade Records.

The album was self-financed by the savings of Kerry King's father. On recording the drums, Slagel wanted drummer Dave Lombardo to play without using cymbals due to the amount of noise they made, as he was unsure if he could siphon the noise out, which he eventually did.

Touring extensively promoting the album, the band brought close friends and family along the trip, who helped backstage with lighting and sound.

"Evil Has No Boundaries" Gene Hoglan, later known as the drummer for bands like Dark Angel and Death, provided backing vocals on the song.

Kevin Reed, a friend of the band, set up the drums and lighting when touring with the band. Reed's father, Lawrence R. Reed, drew the Minotaur (Cretan mythical creature) with a sword on the album's cover.

Although the album was criticized for its poor production quality, it became Metal Blade's highest-selling release and one of the best-selling independent records of all time. 5.000 copies was the label's average.. Show No Mercy went on to sell between 15,500 and 20,000 copies in the United States, it also went on to sell more than 15,000 overseas, as Metal Blade had worldwide rights

Show No Mercy was met with polarized opinions when it was issued, but in some recent reviews it came to be considered a classic album.

Some reissues include extra track(s): "Aggressive Perfector" (originally recorded for the compilation Haunting The Chapel.

1983 US tan labels (original 10-song tracklist)

1984
EU & UK

1986 Brazil

1987
picture disc

1988 US

1989 EU

1993 South Korea

2005 500 red

2008 red blood transparent / black merge

2009 double LP
black

2013 500 red / gray bi-color

2015
white

2016
black

2021
red transparent / orange melt

2024
6000 Gold "Black Dust"