Haunting the Chapel

by

Slayer

In the summer of 1984, with the specter of Big Brother looming in the background, two significant records were released back-to-back—Haunting the Chapel by Slayer in June and Ride the Lightning by Metallica in July. Both bands, who had borrowed elements from speed metal that had existed since the '70s and was being played by various bands in the early '80s, intensified the speed metal characteristics and infused them with their own unique style, creating the new genre of thrash metal. While both bands’ debut albums also contained tracks with elements that could be classified as thrash, they didn’t present as cohesive and definitive a sound as their subsequent works. However, despite both being thrash metal bands, it’s well-known that their musical inclinations differed to some extent. The prototype of the musical style that Slayer and their numerous followers would embrace can be found in this very EP.

All the tracks on this EP are excellent, without any significant weaknesses. However, the most noteworthy track is undoubtedly the opener, "Chemical Warfare." This track, alongside Metallica’s "Fight Fire with Fire," can be considered an iconic song that heralded the true beginning of thrash metal. Its chromatic progressions, chaotic guitar solos that even seem to disregard traditional tonal structure, frequent tremolo-picked riffs, the massive bridge section, and the diverse use of riffs throughout the song showcase many of the exceptional qualities that Slayer would go on to display in their subsequent albums. Listening to this track provides clear insight into how Hell Awaits, one of the greatest albums in metal history, came to be. The following tracks, "Captor of Sin" and "Haunting the Chapel," while lighter than the opening track, are equally impressive. Both feature the signature riffs and solid song structures that one typically associates with Slayer. The only minor disappointment is the somewhat awkward opening guitar solo in "Captor of Sin." As for "Haunting the Chapel," some riffs still carry the distinct flavor of speed metal that was prominent in their debut album (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing!).

"Aggressive Perfector" is a bonus track included in the 1993 re-release of the EP, originally featured on a 1983 compilation album. While it’s not a bad song, it’s stylistically much closer to their debut album and feels somewhat out of place compared to the rest of the tracks on this EP.