Decade of Aggression
Double live album recorded across three dates in 1990 and 1991.
Decade of Aggression is a double live album by the American thrash metal band Slayer, released on October 22, 1991, through Def American Records. Produced by Rick Rubin, it was recorded at three separate venues on three different dates. The album reached number 55 on the Billboard 200 and charted on two other charts.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Slayer
- Released
- October 22, 1991
- Recorded
- July 13, 1991
- March 8, 1991
- October 14, 1990
- Venue
- Lakeland Civic Center (Lakeland, Florida)
- Orange Pavilion (San Bernardino, California)
- Wembley Arena (London)
- Genre
- Thrash metal
- Length
- 89:17
- Label
- Def American
- Producer
- Rick Rubin
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hell Awaits | Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, King | 6:50 |
| 2 | The Anti-Christ | Hanneman, King | 3:50 |
| 3 | War Ensemble | Tom Araya, Hanneman | 4:58 |
| 4 | South of Heaven | Araya, Hanneman | 4:25 |
| 5 | Raining Blood | Hanneman, King | 2:32 |
| 6 | Altar of Sacrifice | King, Hanneman | 2:48 |
| 7 | Jesus Saves | King, Hanneman | 4:12 |
| 8 | Dead Skin Mask | Araya, Hanneman | 4:58 |
| 9 | Seasons in the Abyss | Araya, Hanneman | 7:01 |
| 10 | Mandatory Suicide | Araya, Hanneman, King | 4:00 |
| 11 | Angel of Death | Hanneman | 4:52 |
| Total length | 50:26 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hallowed Point | Araya, Hanneman, King | 3:36 |
| 2 | Blood Red | Araya, Hanneman | 2:50 |
| 3 | Die by the Sword | Hanneman | 3:35 |
| 4 | Black Magic | King, Hanneman | 3:28 |
| 5 | Captor of Sin | Hanneman, King | 3:34 |
| 6 | Born of Fire | King, Hanneman | 3:03 |
| 7 | Postmortem | Hanneman | 4:04 |
| 8 | Spirit in Black | King, Hanneman | 4:07 |
| 9 | Expendable Youth | Araya, King | 4:36 |
| 10 | Chemical Warfare | Hanneman, King | 5:30 |
| Total length | 38:23 | ||
Track listing from the source article.
Conception
The album was recorded while Slayer toured the Clash of the Titans tour promoting their 1990 studio album Seasons in the Abyss. Recording sessions took place on October 14, 1990, March 8, 1991, and July 13, 1991. Its working title was Decade of Decadence, but Mötley Crüe copyrighted that name for their 1991 greatest hits album, so it was released as Decade of Aggression. The release was intended to give the band time to decide the style of their next album. It also commemorated their tenth anniversary. The album does not feature any guitar overdubs. Most tracks were selected from South of Heaven, Reign in Blood, and Seasons in the Abyss. The album booklet includes a photo gallery with pictures dating back to 1982, the majority from Kevin Estrada.
Reception
Thom Jurek of AllMusic gave the album three out of five stars, noting that while it does not capture the full intensity of the band in concert, it comes closer than expected. Jurek also remarked that Rick Rubin's production shaped the live sound to make it seem like one gig. Entertainment Weekly's David Browne called it an accurate aural snapshot of being in a crowd at a distant stage, but added that it exemplifies the sad state of live rock albums. Robert Christgau gave the album an Honorable Mention, commenting that he could hardly understand the lyrics. Joel McIver, author of The Bloody Reign of Slayer, regarded it as one of the best live albums by a heavy metal band. The album charted on three charts: it peaked at number 55 on the Billboard 200 on November 9, 1991; at number 35 on the Media Control Charts on January 13, 1992, staying for three weeks; and at number 29 on the UK Album Charts on December 2, 1991, staying for two weeks.
Track listing
All songs on disc one and disc two were recorded at the Lakeland Civic Center in Lakeland, Florida, on July 13, 1991; the Orange Pavilion in San Bernardino, California, on March 8, 1991; and Wembley Arena in London on October 14, 1990. Specifically, tracks 1, 2, and 7 on disc two were recorded at Wembley Arena, while track 7 on disc two was recorded at the Orange Pavilion.
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