Slayer – South Of Heaven

South of Heaven is the fourth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on July 5, 1988, by Def Jam Recordings. The album was the band’s second collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, whose production skills on their previous album Reign in Blood (1986) had helped their sound evolve. Given the frenetic pace of Reign in Blood, Slayer made no attempt to top it on South of Heaven; rather, the band offset and complemented Reign in Blood by deliberately slowing the tempo down on South of Heaven, as well as by utilizing undistorted guitars and toned-down vocals.
It was the band’s last album released by Def Jam, although the rights were transferred to Rubin’s new label Def American Recordings after Rubin ended his partnership with Russell Simmons. The album was one of only two Def Jam titles to be distributed by Geffen Records through Warner Bros., as Def Jam’s then-distributor Columbia refused to release work by the band.
South of Heaven became Slayer’s second album to enter the Billboard 200, peaking at number 57. While some critics praised the change in the band’s sound, others more accustomed to the style of their earlier efforts were disappointed. Nonetheless, the songs “Mandatory Suicide” and the title track have since become permanent features of the band’s live setlist. South of Heaven was later certified gold by the RIAA in 1992.

Artist Slayer
Label American
Release Date 10.12.2013
Status Current
Article ID 2F2678, 7F8577, X85660
EAN 0602537467921
Catalog no. B1885601
upid 1280155
Languages en

Height 4 mm
Width 320 mm
Weight 400 gr