SLAYER- Show No Mercy LP

Slayer was the opening act for Bitch (2) at the Woodstock Club, L.A., performing eight songs (six of them covers). While performing an Iron Maiden cover "Phantom of the Opera", the band was spotted by Brian Slagel who had recently founded Metal Blade Records. He met with the band backstage and asked them to participate on the upcoming Metal Massacre Volume III and the band agreed. This appearance created underground buzz, which led to Slagel signing contract the band with Metal Blade Records.

The album was self-financed by the savings of Tom Araya, who was employed as a respiratory therapist, and money borrowed from 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 members 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.

Tracklist