Slayer kick so, so, so much ass with this album. If you don't have this album, please go buy it...All the other metal albums I've heard (which is a lot)pale in comparison. Metallica's Ride the Lightning comes close, but what's really admirable about this album is how they perfectly combine all the best aspect of hardcore punk and metal to create something that is so beautiful...if you don't like it at first, try listening to it a few more times, and remember to play it very LOUD! This music is delivered with so much energy and it sounds vital and alive. I would also recommend Hell Awaits. To my ears, this the greatest, most perfect thrash album ever recorded.