Shortly before the other band by the same name released its epochal “Show no Mercy” album, SLAYER from San Antonio, Texas, put out this EP in small numbers (at least, that’s what some sources say – I have not seen this until early 1984 and bought it because I thought it was the L.A. Slayer).
The two SLAYERS don’t really have too much in common, apart from the name and the lyrical quality. Whilst the other Slayer’s debut was incredibly consistent, this EP suffers a bit from the typical first-offering-disease. Although over the years I’ve come to appreciate these inconsistencies and imperfections, “Prepare to die” just ain’t got the focus a band needs in order to deliver the goods. The sometimes almost oriental sounding guitar work and the singer with the girl voice sound not insimiliar to HAWAII’s “One Nation Undergound” album and I’ve always been a sucker for that kind of arabasque melodies. Then again, the satanic image just doesn’t go along with it very well, does it.
Jason McMaster of WATCHTOWER gave me a copy of an unreleased LP by SLAYER (or, as they were called then: S.A. SLAYER) in ’86. Could be that this cassette, which I immediately started dubbin & spreadin’ all over, led to the posthumous release of the “Go for the Throat” LP – an LP which has much more of that (Power Metal) focus.
Anyway, while not earth shattering, this is a nice piece and more than a historical oddity (“the other Slayer”). Some guy released a bootleg LP of a show from 1984, when the two Slayers played together in Austin, Tx. Never heard the bootleg. Any good?
I don’t think this EP has ever been officially rereleased. Somebody made a picture disc bootleg of it a few years ago though.
The Door.mp3
Prepare to die.mp3
Final Holocaust.mp3
Unholy Book.mp3
To ride the Demon out.mp3
19 Comments
Wow, read the title and the year on this post and thought you were dishing out something special. Had me fooled, but an interesting post anyway. Weak is the first word that comes to mind. That voice and then they add reverb or flange or something. Tried every tune and I guess if there is one thing I did like it was the drums (sometimes). Damn, too bad.
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Give it another chance, Justin. It’s not that bad, really.
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FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wanted to hear this forever. I like it!!
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Had this on tape for years. It’s a great little record. Unholy Book is my fave but the rest is good too. The Lp is much better though.
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Yes, Erich, you’re simpyl a God!
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You simply cannot call an atheist god!
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C’mon, just this time…
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erich you rased my hopes and smashed them so fast. this is okay but i thought it was some really rare slayer demo before the album. just wait a one or two hours and i’ll download this.
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Hahahahahahahahaha…this is some seriously funny shit. I laugh every time I hear a good song turn to shit, when some guy tries to scream like a bitch!! Hilarious. I do love this bands later material…this is hysterical.
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I mean, I love the real Slayer, not his crap.
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Finally some metal, good stuff if you ask me and that Slayer/Slayer gig must have been confusing haha.
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yeah this is good but the singer is a little anoying.
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Thanks for this one Erich. I had this as a kid and have been trying to find it again. This will do until I can uncover a vinyl copy.
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I also found a copy of Hawaii One Nation Underground a few weeks ago in a used bin for a couple dollars. I’ll have to give it a listen.
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I like a lot this EP! Much better then their “go for the throat” album which was only released in 1988. Vocalist Steve Cooper (R.I.P.) did a demo with Mark Reale from Riot, under the name Narita. You can hear Cooper singing “thundersteel”. Their split bootleg with Slayer is quiet good, i think that was a soundboard recording, you can download it here: http://lockjaw-yappy.blogspot.com/2009/03/sa-slayer-slayer-split-bootleg.html
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saw s.a.slayer plenty of times here in san antonio,
slayer vs slayer was in san antonio …check out my friends site http://www.satxpunk.com/
here is the show flyer
http://www.satxpunk.com/Flyers/1983-1985/sanantonio_texas_punk_slayer_SAslayer_militia_syrus_villafontana_11-30-1984.jpg
thanks for all the tunes, johnny
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Holy fuck, this the best blog ever goddamned
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outstanding blog! blogs with both metal and punk are the best but yours is just way ahead of every other blog I ever saw. this ep is totally new to me although I grew up on 80s metal. I totaly love it.
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Regarding the Slayer / Slayer split bootleg, as linked above: It fucking KILLS!!!!!! The (l.A.) SLAYER set is phenomenal, makes all post-Hell Awaits (well let’s play nice and say – Reign in Blood) Slayer sound very weak.
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