NOW AVAILABLE!!!!! Murder In the Front Row: Bay Area Bangers and the Birth of Thrash Metal (Photo Book)

Finally! It feels like I've been waiting forever for them to unleash this killer photo book on us. Whether you were there or not, this book is a headbangers dream come true; its the closest thing we'll ever come to a time machine so soak it up you fuckers! But be sure to buy it directly from the publishers (cut out out the middle man) Bazillion Points, plus it's the ONLY way to get your hands on the limited edition, full color 26" x 11.5" two sided Exodus/Metallica dust jacket/poster. But don't take my word for it, check out what Bazillion Points owner and fellow metalhead Ian Christe has to say about it as he flips through and give us a peek inside this kick ass book.



ISBN 978-1-935950-03-5
Hardcover/ Approx. 288pp full color pages
Approx. 9.25″ x 11.5″

Legendary San Francisco Bay Area metal photographers Brian Lew (Whiplash fanzine) and Harald “O.” Oimoen (D.R.I.) have joined forces to create the large-format hardcover photo collection MURDER IN THE FRONT ROW: Bay Area Bangers and the Birth of Thrash Metal. Coming this fall from Bazillion Points Books, this intense look at early hardcore headbangers features some of the first photos of the Big Four and their extended family of thrash metal bands. With hundreds of candid, live, and studio shots, Lew and Oimoen celebrate the unique wild-eyed spirit and atmosphere of the historic S.F. Bay Area heavy metal scene: pinpointing clubs (The Old Waldorf, The Stone, Ruthie’s Inn, The Omni); hangouts (The Record Vault, the infamous Metallica Mansion); and beloved local figures like fearless stage diver Toby Rage, manager Debbie Abono, and the unrivaled metal ringmaster Paul Baloff of Exodus.

Among the jaw-dropping moments in heavy metal history on display: Cliff Burton’s first rehearsal with Dave Mustaine-era Metallica; Kerry King of Slayer performing with early Megadeth; Metallica and Slayer’s first Bay Area shows—including the very meeting of the two bands; original uncropped prints of Possessed’s blood-spattered Seven Churches band photo shoot; some of the earliest photos of Vio-lence and Death Angel; Testament (then called Legacy) dressed in early religious stage outfits; the crazed front row faces from legendary Ruthie’s Inn; and Metallica’s triumphant takeover of Day on the Green in 1985.

At roughly 300 pages, this incredible visual time capsule comes from a friendship that started when Lew and Oimoen first met as teenage metalheads. Both later contributed to Ron Quintana’s infamous Metal Mania fanzine.

“”I am so psyched on getting these photos out there. The camaraderie and great friendships forged between all the bands and the fans was so cool! There literally wasn’t much distinction between the two. Everybody was pals with everyone else, and it was a magical time to be a metalhead living in the Bay Area. People are gonna freak on what what we’re gonna show them. This is a dream come true!”—Harald Oimoen

“This will not be a history book, but rather a time machine back to the ‘bonded by blood’ days of the original Bay Area Metal scene. Before they played the Bay Area, Slayer wore makeup onstage—after that first Bay Area show they never wore makeup again. This book will show people why.”—Brian Lew

Check it out at:

Official Murder in the Front Row Website

Official Brazillion Points Website

Murder in the Front Row Facebook Page

Brazillion Points Facebook Page

Slayer's Reign in Blood (33 1/3) - D.X. Ferris

Book review by: Blood Read (Amazon.com)

The typical analysis or oral history of SLAYER usually comes down to their passionate fans yelling out "F-KING SLAYER!" or people on the other side that dismiss them as childish. D.X. Ferris has delivered a fascinating read with much more substance.

Focused on the undeniable classic thrash album "Reign in Blood", Ferris explores everything about the band from the musical recording of the album, the always bizarre behind the scenes record industry maneuvering, and puts the career of a legendary band into perspective.

A thorough book about an iconic album which is their brutal masterpiece, with quotes from not only the band members and people who worked on the album, but a never-ending stream of metal peers and those influenced by this musical touchstone.

A mandatory (suicide) read for every SLAYER fan, and hopefully for those who write them off as Satanic Nazis and don't bother to learn more. A great read.

International Day of Slayer: Sunday June 6th

How to Celebrate

• Listen to Slayer at full blast in your car.
• Listen to Slayer at full blast in your home.
• Listen to Slayer at full blast at your place of employment.
• Listen to Slayer at full blast in any public place you prefer.

DO NOT use headphones! The objective of this day is for everyone within earshot to understand that it is the National Day of Slayer. National holidays in America aren't just about celebrating; they're about forcing it upon non-participants.

Taking that participation to a problematic level

• Stage a "Slay-out." Don't go to work. Listen to Slayer.
• Have a huge block party that clogs up a street in your neighborhood. Blast Slayer albums all evening. Get police cruisers and helicopters on the scene. Finish with a full-scale riot.
• Spray paint Slayer logos on churches, synagogues, or cemeteries.
• Play Slayer covers with your own band (since 99% of your riffs are stolen from Slayer anyway).
• Kill the neighbor's dog and blame it on Slayer.

The Big Four: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax - Broadcast via Satellite to Select Movie Theatres Tuesday, June 22

For one night only, metalheads around the world can experience history: On Tuesday, June 22, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax perform on one stage together, and through the wonders of satellite technology, you can be part of this historic concert event, broadcast exclusively to select movie theatres around the world. Beyond the limited European festival dates, there are no additional tour dates planned for this extraordinary line-up.

US Tickets on sale now;
International Tickets on sale May 28.
www.thebigfourlive.com

Slayer - Show No Mercy

Full-length, Metal Blade Records
December 3rd, 1983

Tom Araya : Vocals, bass
Jeff Hanneman : Guitars
Kerry King : Guitars
Dave Lombardo : Drums

Certain re-releases of this album include the "Haunting the Chapel" EP, as well as the song "Aggressive Perfector", which was on Metal Massacre 3.

Another re-release just includes the song "Chemical Warfare" (06:02) at #11.

One Roadrunner version (released in 1984) has "Aggressive Perfector" as bonus track, between "Metal Storm" and "Black Magic".

"Metal Classics" version includes extra tracks Aggressive Perfector and Chemical Warfare.

The album was recorded in November 1983 and released a month later. The album took only eight hours to record (from 11 pm to 7 am), so as to cut down studio costs, which explains the poor production quality.

Gene Hoglan (ex-Death, Dark Angel, Testament, Strapping Young Lad) did backing vocals for "Evil Has No Boundaries".

1. Evil Has No Boundaries
2. The Antichrist
3. Die by the Sword
4. Fight 'till Death
5. Metal Storm/Face the Slayer
6. Black Magic
7. Tormentor
8. The Final Command
9. Crionics
10. Show No Mercy

Slayer - Megadeth & Testament : 8/15/10 Camden, NJ

Slayer - I Hate You (Verbal Abuse Cover)

Taken from their 1996 release "Undisputed Attitude"

Coven-Piranha (Exodus Cover) & Rainging Blood (Slayer Cover)

Slayer - Dittohead

Taken from their 1994 full length "Divine Intervention"

Slayer - War Ensemble

Taken from their 1990 full length "Seasons in the Abyss"

Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss

Taken from their 1990 full length "Seasons in the Abyss"

Slayer - South of Heaven

Taken from their 1988 full length "South of Heaven"

Combat Tour: The Ultimate Revenge (EXODUS,SLAYER,VENOM)

Released as a live home video in 1985, the video contains footage filmed at New York's Studio 54 club, on April 3rd, 1984 with Exodus, Slayer and Venom. To my knowledge this was never officially re-release in DVD format although various rips from the original VHS tape do exist.