Slayer

Slayer remains one of speed-metal’s most vital and revered practitioners, practically inventing the double-kick-drum assault nearly 20 years ago. It’s one of the few popular metal acts to have stuck to its guns artistically, and its stubborn refusal to compromise is laudable. Last year’s World Painted Blood is orthodox Slayer: It sounds like hell built on a few dozen Marshall stacks.

Updated 09/15/2010