Reign in Blood
Slayer released their second album in March 1985. It was named Hell Awaits. Many music critics liked it. The band's producer, Brian Slagel, thought that the band's next album was going to be very popular. Slagel talked to many different record labels. One of them was Def Jam Recordings. At first, Slagel did not want the band to join Def Jam. This is because Def Jam did not have many other thrash metal bands in their record label. Rick Rubin, one of the people who made Def Jam, was interested in Slayer. Dave Lombardo, the band's drummer, learned that Rubin was interested. He tried to talk to Rubin. The other members of Slayer did not want to leave Metal Blade Records. This was the record label they made Show No Mercy (1983) and Hell Awaits with. The band had a contract with Metal Blade.