South of Heaven

Deliberately pulling back the tempo following the breakneck speed of its predecessor 'Reign in Blood', 'South of Heaven' thrives on menacing, mid-paced grooves and suffocating dread. The slower, more calculated tempos allowed the band to cultivate a profoundly dark, infernal atmosphere, prioritizing heavy, ominous riffing and Dave Lombardo's precise drum work. It proved Slayer could retain their unmatched intensity and anti-religious edge without relying purely on relentless speed.