Regarded as one of the finest thrash metal albums of all time, Reign In Blood broke new ground for Slayer, giving them a cooler, suddenly streetwise overhaul. By then signed to the fast rising Def American label – best known at the time for its rap output – the band had the advantage of rap rock producer Rick Rubin’s input on a set of songs that were to define – and, indeed, overshadow – their career.
“We needed to have an album sleeve that reflected what we were about,” said frontman Tom Araya at the time. “We weren’t after our version of Iron Maiden’s Eddie, but it needed to be striking.”
