When it comes to
death metal
, no band is more convincing than
Slayer
. For other bands, focusing on death, Satanism, the supernatural, and the occult became a cliche; but
's controversial reflections on evil always came across as honest and heartfelt. The group's sincerity is the thing that makes
South of Heaven
so disturbing and powerful -- when the influential thrashers rip into such morbid fare as
"Spill the Blood,"
"Mandatory Suicide,"
and
"Ghosts of War,"
they are frighteningly convincing. With their fourth album,
began to slow their tempos without sacrificing an iota of heaviness or incorporating any
pop
elements.
would be
's last album for
Def Jam
. When
Rick Rubin
Russell Simmons
(brother of
Joseph "Run" Simmons
of
Run-D.M.C.
) parted company,
went to
Rubin
's new company
Def American
, while
LL Cool J
,
Slick Rick
, and other rappers recorded for
Simmons
at
. ~ Alex Henderson