Coming off the classics "Reign in Blood" and "South of Heaven," Slayer continued their evolution with "Seasons in the Abyss." This album is perhaps their most mature, combining the speed and aggression of "Reign" with the more polished approach of "South." Yet somehow, it managed to be both heavier and more melodic than its predecessors. The production is clear, the songwriting's diverse, and Hanneman and King turned in a performance that cemented their place among the best metal guitar duos. And it's also worth noting that on his last album for the band, Dave Lombardo turned in a drum performance for the ages, with precision and variety that was just mindblowing. Tom Araya reached the pinnacle of his career here; his voice is perfect. He has since lost some of his edge, but its still Tom, so it works. Kerry and Jeff deliver some blistering riffs and wild solos, which make the experience ever the more insane. All in all, one of the best releases in metal's history!!