News, reviews, and interviews:

Here's what they're saying about 33 1/3: Reign in Blood , available cheap now at Amazon.com –

http://www.amazon.com/Slayers-Reign-Blood-33-3/dp/0826429092/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201106955&sr=8-1

"This book rules. If you like the band, you'll love the book (because it rules)."

-- Amazon.com customer Cliff Milledge

"A short, intense, meticulous history of Reign In Blood and really, the whole band… The result is an authorized, damn perfect look at this one album."

-- Martin Popoff, editor in chief of Brave Words Bloody Knux, author of "Judas Priest: Heavy Metal Painkillers" and "Black Sabbath: Doom Let Loose," and general big dog

"To say that 'Reign in Blood' is mandatory reading for fans of the band and the album is ridiculously understated. Perhaps more importantly, the book is essential for anyone with an interest in heavy metal."

-- Metal Maniacs' Scott Alisoglu (Nov. 2008 issue, p. 56, the Haunted and Enslaved on the cover)

"Reign in Blood is notable for its brutality, but as the defining manifesto of thrash metal, it is transcendent for its purity. To love rock & roll is to love subcultures, and D.X. Ferris has explained, in stunning detail, how one subculture was defined and galvanized by that single album, and why that definition will never need to be written again."

-- David Giffels, co-author of "Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!" and author of "All the Way Home: Building a Family in a Falling-Down House"

"D.X. Ferris has written an academic and thought-provoking book while at the same time presenting it as a general reader. Ferris does not give in to the tendency of 'dumbing down' metal; instead, he puts forth a very well argued statement that Slayer's 'Reign In Blood' is a classic album and should be treated as such."

-- Laura Kowalewski and Andrew Carpenter, Ballet Deviare

"If you don't learn something from this book then you are a liar."

-- Sage Francis

"Ferris interviewed everyone who's anyone so he could deliver the last word on Slayer's first metal masterpiece. Rock-solid rock joürnalism that deserves its umlauts."

-- Dan LeRoy, author of "33 1/3: Paul's Boutique" and "The Greatest Music Never Sold: Secrets of Legendary Lost Albums by David Bowie, Seal, Beastie Boys, Chicago, Mick Jagger, and More!"

"Declares Ferris, 'I wanted to present the story in a way that's compelling to both rabid Slayer fans and to NPR listeners who love pop music but have never lost a shoe in a mosh pit' -- and he largely succeeds."

-- Dave Segal, OC Weekly

"D.X. Ferris breaks it all down person-by-person and track-by-track to separate fact from fiction, retracing the origins, occasional pitfalls and eventual triumph that brought forth in his words, 'the greatest heavy metal album ever.'… The book untangles a number of assumptions related to the band that should surprise even longtime fans…. The book provides not only a good introduction to the band, but capably answers on all fronts regarding the album in question…. Ferris pens a clean and even story; flashes his bona fides outright and is passionate enough about the work to sustain that fervor through to the end. " -- Todd DePalma, The Left Hand Path

"DX Ferris' recent 33 1/3 book devoted to Reign In Blood is excellent."

-- Joel McIver, author of Slayer biography "The Bloody Reign of Slayer"



In'erviews:

Long-arsed interview with me by Axl at MetalSucks.net. About music, writing, music writing, and [frakkin'] Slayer:
http://www.metalsucks.net/?p=6477

Similar thing, but smaller:
http://www.neildaniels.com/Ferris.html

Reviews:

Maybe my favorite review yet, from the Left Hand Path. Dude gets it:
http://www.thelefthandpath.com/lefthandpath/index.cfm/event/read/entry/Book_Review_Reign_In_Blood

Others:

http://www.losingtoday.com/reviews.php?review_id=4681

http://www.prex.com/blog/book-review-reign-blood-dxferris-33-13-series/

http://www.ocweekly.com/2008-06-26/music/sprawl-of-sound-slayer-39-s-reign-in-blood-analyzed-ariel-pink-in-the-studio-c-r-a-c-at-abstract-workshop/

Mr. Popoff's whole BWBK Review:

http://www.bravewords.com/hardwares/1001375

Simple 4 (of 5) star review from GoodReads.com:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28586528

And some kind words from Slayer biographer Joel McIver -- what, you don't have his Bloody Reign of Slayer yet?

http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/joelmciver.htm


Keep readin'. The book makes an excellent Samhain/Yuletide/Yoolis gift.

THANK YOU

- ferris

Three parts here, folks:

1. My intro

2. A sample from the book.

3. A list of most of the people I interviewed for this joint.

Part One of Three: My Intro

Again, the book's about 3 things: 1) How the record was made, 2) What it means to the band and other artists, and 3) It's the first real full-length bio of the band in book form -- not exactly a bio, but a profile of all the major people involved in the record.

These are all based on all-new interviews conducted specifically for this book.

Here's a taste of how part 2 will shape up. In part of the book called "The Argument: F*ckin' Slayer." I just dropped in the * so I won't get jammed up on internet censoring stuff.

Anyhow... It goes a little like this:

Part Two of Three: Little Taste of the Book.

Slayer isn't the biggest band to emerge from the mid-80s thrash movement (Metallica is); better, they're the standard-bearers of metal itself. They're revered by groups you know, bands you'd never heard of, and musicians you'd be surprised to hear weigh in on their behalf. Slayer has as many better-than-good albums as any band, but guitarist Kerry King says they wouldn't play another full record live. They're all longer, and none has an unbroken string of favorites. Explains the guitarist, "Everybody likes Reign in Blood."

The controversial album remains the golden standard for extreme heavy metal. It's a seamless procession of 10 blindingly fast songs in just 29 minutes, delivered in furious bursts of instrumental precision. Its lyrics are so striking that Tori Amos was moved to record a cover. Its hooks are so monstrous that Public Enemy sampled a song. Reign in Blood saw the Southern California standouts permanently fuse classic rock's technical proficiency, hardcore punk's speed, and metal's brute power – all captured with crystalline clarity.

"I think it was one of the first records of its genre that was recorded well, which makes a lot of difference," says producer Jack Endino, who has worked with Nirvana, Soundgarden, and High on Fire. "And that's why that record has such impact. It wasn't just a shitty indie band any more. It's clear, it's crisp, it rips your head off. It's the first one I took seriously, and I was not paying attention to metal or thrash much."

Little wonder, considering the record's pedigree.

At the time, the team behind Reign in Blood were unusual matches. Years later, the combinations only seem more odd: Reign was produced by Rick Rubin, then just some New York rap dude – albeit a successful one. Then, he was best known for creating hip-hop albums with groups such as Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys. Now he's a Grammy-winning Producer of the Year, renowned for his work with Johnny Cash, Jay-Z, the Dixie Chicks, and Justin Timberlake. When he's not producing, he's the co-head of Columbia Records. Reign was engineered by Andy Wallace, now the first name in rock mixing, producer of Jeff Buckley's ethereal Grace, and engineer of Nirvana's earth-shaking Nevermind. Not to mention Slayer themselves, a rock combo for the ages, with thrash's most combustible onstage chemistry.

Working in a much-maligned genre, guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King emerged as the Lennon and McCartney of speed metal, having penned a collection of blood-soaked scenes comparable to haunting novels like Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian and Herman Melville's Moby-Dick. The record stands as a grim treatise on human nature, a statement of violent naturalism, an unflinching look at the human condition's darkest corners.

Reign in Blood opens with a song about the true horrors of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz. Three songs about serial killers follow. Two gory tales threaten vengeance from beyond the grave. An explicit indictment mocks religion. A plague obliterates the human race. A Satanic cult slaughter virgins for evil power. A piledriving climax looks at death nine ways from Sunday. It's grisly stuff.

Issued on America's premier rap label – Def Jam -- at the pinnacle of the thrash movement, Reign in Blood set the bar for an emerging genre called death metal. The record continues to serve as a touchstone for headbanger musicians internationally, from underground to arenas, from Poland to Iowa.

"Reign in Blood, it's a dogma," says Nergal, frontman of Poland's Behemoth. "Slayer kills. Reign in Blood is really top of the tops, definitely one of the best extreme metal albums ever. Not just thrash metal. They're more than just a thrash band. They are a rock band. Slayer stands there along with Metallica, Kiss, and the Beatles."

If, unlike Endino, you were paying attention to metal, Reign is still relevant, recognized as a high-water-mark from a golden age.

"[Reign in Blood], to me, is the epitome of thrash metal," says Slipknot guitarist Jim Root. "It's great. I'd definitely give it five stars. It's straight-forward, no-bullshit. Every song kicks ass. Every riff kicks ass. It's such a short record — absolutely no way you can get sick of it. I would put that album right up there with [Megadeth's] Peace Sells and [Metallica's] Master of Puppets and [Anthrax's] Among the Living. It changed [metal] for the better."

Critics, musicians, and fans generally recognize Reign as the quintessential thrash album. You can argue whether the sonic variety of Metallica's Master of Puppets makes it superior or inferior. Regardless, as Spin magazine's Joe Gross put it, Reign is "is the thrashiest thrash ever." The disc marked Slayer's coronation as the kings of thrash, and their ongoing streak of vitality places them in the small fraternity of rock's greatest groups. Don't just take the headbangers' word for it.

"They are one of the very best American rock bands," said Greg Kot, host of rock talk show Sound Opinions, a biographer of the hallowed Wilco, and contributor to Rolling Stone. "I take them out of the realm of metal. They are just a pure great rock band of the past 25 years. What they do with a guitar, bass, and drums is unequalled in the history of modern music."

After more than 25 years, Slayer is still Slayer. The band has only changed drummers. Its other three members are constants. And original skinsman Dave Lombardo returned to the group years before 2006's Christ Illusion, which netted the band a Grammy win. The musicians interviewed for this book invariably ranked Slayer as the top thrash band, and "top five" among metal bands. Using different criteria, you can argue Slayer, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, or Metallica as the best group in the genre: Biggest? Most influential? Best musicians? But consider this: Metal or otherwise, no group has remained as true to its peak intensity or intent through a continuous career. Any argument to the contrary puts Slayer in contention with some of the greats.

The Rolling Stones are still a top draw, but only a diehard, easy-to-please fan would argue that any material from the past 30 years is more than a pale shade of "Paint It, Black." R.E.M. made great records from 1983 through 1998. The Who has a tremendous legacy. U2 is more popular than ever, but Kerry King's worst lyrics – and he's written a couple groaners; who hasn't? – don't scrape the bottom of the barrel like "Vertigo." The Grateful Dead don't count. Sonic Youth still do their thing, though Rather Ripped is no EVOL. Front row at a Slayer show is still an aerobic experience. Say what you will about the others: 18-year-olds do not thrash themselves bloody at Stone or U2 concerts.

Mötörhead and AC/DC certainly never took a step off their boat. Pantera? Great band, never fell off, maybe more influential than Slayer – but not as groundbreaking. The Ramones never hit bottom, and went out on top. What if the Ginn-Dukowski lineup of Black Flag had stayed together for 25 years? Imagine if the Stooges had stuck around to make eleven albums. There is no "What if?" with Slayer. Slayer never sucked. Slayer's worst is never too far from their best.

And Reign in Blood is Slayer's best. It's one thing for a single alpha-geek music fan run his mouth for 100 pages; don't take my word for it. Read on, and you'll hear from 46 musicians, producers, and artists who find Reign in Blood an enduringly significant piece of art. And 20 others created Reign or saw it happen. None of them is the type to carve the band's name into their skin, or shout – as countless fans do – "FUCKIN' SLAYER!" and leave it at that. But Reign in Blood has touched their life. And they have some thoughts as to why.

What band besides Led Zeppelin has such a cumulative consensus? Slayer's high-profile fans include metal musicians from three generations. Old-school hardcore legends. A singer-songwriter piano queen. A composer-musicologist. A tattoo-artist TV star. Underground rappers. Hip-hop heroes. A Ukrainian Gypsy punk. They all agree: Like Black Sabbath before them, Slayer has an appeal that goes beyond the traditional hesher demographic. Slayer is the one thrash band palatable to music fans that don't own a Metallica album and never heatedly debated the merits of various Megadeth lineups.

"Slayer have as much integrity as these hipster bands who carp on and on about integrity," says Henry Rollins. "They just go out and make that record and do that tour. They don't talk about integrity. They don't need to. And that's what gives Slayer undeniable power, unimpeachable credibility. If you notice, the people that are into Slayer, you can't convince them there's any better thing to be doing on that night. And it's for good reason: because Slayer's never sold out."

-- more to come --

Part Three of Three: Who All's Up in This Piece?

Reign In Blood: The Book. It's true. And I need your help.

The good folks at Continuum Books have commissioned a book about Slayer's "Reign in Blood" -- for my money, the best metal album, by the best metal band. (But I'm a thrash guy, so take it for what it's worth; Maiden rules, too.) And I'm writing it.

I'm not the most hardcore guy in the world, but I'll tell you this: I'm not gonna f*k it up.

Where am I coming from? Here's something I wrote about the band recently.:

http://www.clevescene.com/2007-02-07/music/hesher-hall-of-fame/

The book is part of the 33 1/3 series, a collection of (currently) about 50 books, each one about a classic album, from the Beach Boys to the Beastie Boys -- check out a full lineup at http://www.amazon.com/gp/series/1942 . This will be the first full-one metal one.

Anyhow, here's how you can help me not f*k up Operation Overlord (that's the working title -- sweet, huh?): Tell me what you'd like to read in the book.

What do YOU want to know about the album, what it means, how it came to be, and why it still totally kills 20 years later?

Let me know. And that way, in a few months, once you drop $10 on the thing, you won't put it down and think, "Man, I wish he would have asked this, that, and the other thing." I have some pretty cool plans for the project, and YOUR questions will make it better.

Send 'em to me at reigninblood333 [ a t ) yahoo.com . You can post here, but I'll be taking the questions down so everyone will be nice & surprised when the book arrives... which will be soon.

Thank you. Stay tuned. As the guys in Ringworm say, it's gonna be a rager.

-- D.X. Ferris