Thrash metal greats Slayer recently began marking 40 years of their 1985 sophomore album “Hell Awaits” with the launch of a new Slaytanic Verses online exhibit. That celebration will also extend into more tangible means in the new year, as Metal Blade Records have announced a 40th anniversary edition of the album will be landing on May 15th.
A live concert the band played at Zeche in Bochum, Germany on June 18th of 1985 will be included as bonus material on this new reissue. The album itself has also been newly remastered and restored by Patrick W. Engel for this release. Looking back on the album now, guitarist Kerry King stated, “It’s the record where Slayer became Slayer.” He went on to add:
“Jeff [Hanneman, late Slayer guitarist] and I were still trying to figure out who we were as musicians, and we were both infatuated with Mercyful Fate‘s ‘Melissa‘ album during the writing process for ‘Hell Awaits‘ That’s why there’s so few songs and most of ’em are pretty long. That’s the only time anything like that ever happened with us.”
Various elaborate formats are being offered up for this celebratory reissue. Here’s the rundown.
Vinyl box set:
- 3 LPs total: 7-track Hell Awaits + 18-track live bonus audio (Live from Bochum 1985):
- 60-page book (12″ size)
- Hell Awaits album (in gatefold sleeve, 1xLP) mastered and restored from original 1985 production tapes by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony in February 2025. Vinyl color = Fire Splatter
- Live from Bochum 1985 (in gatefold sleeve, 2xLP) – 18 live tracks never before released physically or digitally
- Replica ticket from the Bochum show
- Replica Hell Awaits tour laminate
- Hell Awaits tour poster (German dates)
- Slipmat
- Band posters
- Replica merch flyer
- Replica Satanic Wehrmacht newsletter
- 2 flyers
“Blood” Filled Liquid Vinyl (Slayer store exclusive – Ltd. 666 worldwide):
- 7-track Hell Awaits album mastered and restored from original 1985 production tapes by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony in February 2025
- “Blood” filled liquid vinyl – gatefold
CD Earbook:
- Earbook includes 3xCDs – 7-track Hell Awaits CD + 18-track live bonus audio (Live from Bochum 1985):
- Hell Awaits album (1xCD) mastered and restored from original 1985 production tapes by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony in February 2025
- Live from Bochum 1985 (2x CD) 18 live tracks never before released physically or digitally
- 60-page 11″ book
- Poster
Digital:
- Includes 7-track Hell Awaits + 18-track live bonus audio (Live from Bochum 1985)
“Hell Awaits” (40th Anniversary) track listing:
01 – “Hell Awaits“
02 – “Kill Again“
03 – “At Dawn They Sleep“
04 – “Praise Of Death“
05 – “Necrophiliac“
06 – “Crypts Of Eternity“
07 – “Hardening Of The Arteries“
08 – “Hell Awaits” (live from Bochum 1985)
09 – “Aggressive Perfector” (live from Bochum 1985)
10 – “Captor Of Sin” (live from Bochum 1985)
11 – “The Final Command” (live from Bochum 1985)
12 – “Kill Again” (live from Bochum 1985)
13 – “Crypts Of Eternity” (live from Bochum 1985)
14 – “Fight Till Death” (live from Bochum 1985)
15 – “Necrophiliac” (live from Bochum 1985)
16 – “Haunting The Chapel” (live from Bochum 1985)
17 – “Hardening Of The Arteries” (live from Bochum 1985)
18 – “Black Magic” (live from Bochum 1985)
19 – “Die By The Sword” (live from Bochum 1985)
20 – “The Antichrist” (live from Bochum 1985)
21 – “At Dawn They Sleep” (live from Bochum 1985)
22 – “Show No Mercy” (live from Bochum 1985)
23 – “Evil Has No Boundaries” (live from Bochum 1985)
24 – “Chemical Warfare” (live from Bochum 1985)
25 – “Praise Of Death “(live from Bochum 1985)
Pre-orders can be found through metalblade.com/slayer. Establishing themselves as one of the ‘Big Four’ of thrash metal throughout decades of music and touring, Slayer capped off their career in 2019 following the culmination of a global farewell tour.
However, the influential band reunited in 2024, playing a series of sporadic live appearances since. At the moment, they have one show announced for 2026: a stop at the October 24th ‘Sick New World‘ fest in Fort Worth, TX. That set will find them celebrating another 40th anniversary, honoring their 1986 landmark album, and “Hell Awaits” follow-up, “Reign In Blood“.
