Soundtrack to the Apocalypse is a box set by the American thrash metal band Slayer. Released November 25, 2003 through American Recordings, the three–disc CD and DVD set features music from previous albums, unreleased material, and live film. A deluxe edition version (which has the alias "ammo box"[1]) was released and featured everything from the standard edition, with the addition of 14 live tracks. The box set's name originated from an alternative title for 2001's God Hates Us All. After discussing among themselves the idea of the box set, the band informed their record company, who initially disliked but later approved the idea. A bonus disc (known as the bloodpack) was included in some versions.
| Soundtrack to the Apocalypse | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Box set by | ||||
| Released | November 25, 2003 | |||
| Recorded | March 1983 – July 2003 | |||
| Genre | Thrash metal | |||
| Length | 3:39:13 (Discs 1–3), 70:10 (Disc 4: DVD) 72:38 (Disc 5: Bloodpack CD) | |||
| Label | American | |||
| Producer | Matt Hyde, Dino Paredes, Rick Rubin, Dave Sardy, Andy Wallace, Toby Wright | |||
| Slayer chronology | ||||
| ||||
Many dates were stated by band members as to when it would be released. The official release date was not announced until late October 2003. The box set has been released five times between the late 2003 and early 2007. There were several producers and film directors that were involved with the box set. The set received positive reviews from critics, but didn't debut on notable charts.
Conception
editAround the time Slayer thought of the album title for 2001's God Hates Us All, Soundtrack to the Apocalypse was considered an alternative name.[2] Vocalist Tom Araya then suggested that if they ever opted to issue a box set, Soundtrack to the Apocalypse would be the most appropriate title.[2] This inspired discussion regarding a possible box set release, which continued for several months.[2] The group decided that once the label agreed to a release, they would be given a little more time to compile the material.[2] Slayer approached the record company regarding a box set release, and discussions lasted roughly a year, since the band had to negotiate with the record company concerning plans they had with the box set which were not in their contract.[2] In September 2003, the record company granted permission to issue the box set and wanted an immediate release for the holiday season.[2]
Slayer submitted a range of material for the record company to choose from, instructing them to return a track list of what they felt to be the best items.[3] Following this, Slayer looked at the returned material; if the recorded track was a “good” performance but the band "didn’t care for the song", they asked the record company to select another track.[3]
Guitarist Kerry King commented "there's tons of stuff on there", citing the amount they had to choose from as a problem.[3] King himself owned five large Tupperware storage boxes full of material amassed over the years.[3] Having every magazine had ever seen the group inside, King also possessed roughly 70 VHS and 8mm videos dating back to 1983.[3] Nick John of Slayer’s management team sifted through every video and transferred them to DVD.[3]
Production
editSoundtrack to the Apocalypse's ideal release date was in early November 2003.[4] However, on September 25, 2003, it was announced by employees of MTV that the box set's release date had been pushed back to November 18, 2003.[5] On October 23, 2003, employees of MTV announced that the box set's release date was pushed back to November 25, 2003.[6] Since November 25, 2003, Slayer has released the box set five different times. The first three times were each released in 2003, the first being released through Universal Records,[7] and the other two, one being a Deluxe Edition version, were released through American Recordings.[7][8] The set's fourth release, which was packaged with only three discs, was released through American Records in 2006.[9] The box set's final release was in 2007, where it was released through WEA International.[10] It was also released in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2003.[11] It was produced with three Compact Discs, one DVD, and a booklet.[11]
The packaging was praised by PopMatters, insisting that the box set is "very nicely packaged, in a swanky fold-out digipak with a clear plastic slipcase. The 72-page accompanying booklet is outstanding, with extensive liner notes, loads of photos, and many memories from the band members." USA Today related: "[it is] a combination of the metal grinders' best-known tracks, with live and studio rarities plus 17 DVD selections. A deluxe edition ($100) adds a live disc and a few souvenir extras."[12] Soundtrack to the Apocalypse was produced by Matt Hyde, Dino Paredes, Rick Rubin, D. Sardy, and Andy Wallace and was executively produced by Nick John and Rick Sales.[13] The film on the fourth disc was directed by Di Puglia, Gerard.[13] The set includes many Slayer tracks since 1986 with several rarities and b-sides, and includes a remastered DVD of live performances spanning 20 years. A fifth disc was released with fourteen more tracks than the set's standard edition. The bonus live tracks were recorded at The Grove In Anaheim, California, on May 2, 2002, several months following the return of original drummer Dave Lombardo. The extra tracks are packaged in a "blood pack" sleeve, which is decorated with faux blood and skulls.[14]
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| 411mania.com | (8.5/10)[15] |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| Mojo | [16] |
| PopMatters | (favorable)[11] |
| Q | [16] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [17] |
Although it did not enter any charts, Thom Jurek from AllMusic praised Soundtrack to the Apocalypse, rewarding the box set with four out of five stars. Jurek said it had "a whopping four CDs and one DVD." Jurek noted that discs one and two "feature tracks from Reign in Blood, and all the albums that proceed from it, and includes bonus cuts previously only released in Japan, and cuts from soundtracks." He also said that the third disc "is, appropriately, titled 'Shit You Never Heard' because that's what it is — sixteen tracks that have been unissued anywhere — from rehearsals, to in-concert recordings, demos, and one 'No Remorse,' a collaboration with Atari Teenage Riot, from the Spawn soundtrack," and that the fourth disc are "an electronic press kit video for Diabolus in Musica, and an appearance at the Kerrang magazine awards."[7] Adrien Begrand from PopMatters favoured the album, lauding the packaging but stating that "like any other CD box set that has come out in recent years, the band seems torn about whom to appeal to, longtime fans, or newcomers."[11] Begrand noted that the first disc "is especially great, as it captures Slayer at the peak of their career, starting with the classic 1986 album Reign in Blood."[11] PR Newswire said it was "a Slayer fan's ultimate experience,"[18] and The Dallas Morning News called it "a fat new audiovisual box set."[19]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Angel of Death" | Jeff Hanneman | Hanneman | Reign in Blood | 4:50 |
| 2. | "Criminally Insane" (remix) |
|
| Reign in Blood (re-issue) | 3:07 |
| 3. | "Postmortem" | Hanneman | Hanneman | Reign in Blood | 3:27 |
| 4. | "Raining Blood" |
| Hanneman | Reign in Blood | 4:12 |
| 5. | "Aggressive Perfector" |
|
| Reign in Blood (re-issue) | 2:28 |
| 6. | "South of Heaven" | Tom Araya | Hanneman | South of Heaven | 4:45 |
| 7. | "Silent Scream" | Araya |
| South of Heaven | 3:05 |
| 8. | "Live Undead" |
| Hanneman | South of Heaven | 3:50 |
| 9. | "Mandatory Suicide" | Araya |
| South of Heaven | 4:04 |
| 10. | "Spill the Blood" | Hanneman | Hanneman | South of Heaven | 4:49 |
| 11. | "War Ensemble" |
| Hanneman | Seasons in the Abyss | 4:51 |
| 12. | "Dead Skin Mask" | Araya | Hanneman | Seasons in the Abyss | 5:16 |
| 13. | "Hallowed Point" |
|
| Seasons in the Abyss | 3:24 |
| 14. | "Born of Fire" | King |
| Seasons in the Abyss | 3:07 |
| 15. | "Seasons in the Abyss" | Araya | Hanneman | Seasons in the Abyss | 6:26 |
| 16. | "Hell Awaits" (live) | King |
| Decade of Aggression | 6:49 |
| 17. | "The Antichrist" (live) | Hanneman |
| Decade of Aggression | 3:11 |
| 18. | "Chemical Warfare" (live) |
|
| Decade of Aggression | 5:25 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sex. Murder. Art." | Araya | King | Divine Intervention | 1:50 |
| 2. | "Dittohead" | King | King | Divine Intervention | 2:30 |
| 3. | "Divine Intervention" |
|
| Divine Intervention | 5:32 |
| 4. | "Serenity in Murder" | Araya |
| Divine Intervention | 2:36 |
| 5. | "213" | Araya | Hanneman | Divine Intervention | 4:51 |
| 6. | "Can't Stand You" | Hanneman | Hanneman | Undisputed Attitude | 1:27 |
| 7. | "Ddamm" | Hanneman | Hanneman | Undisputed Attitude | 1:01 |
| 8. | "Gemini" | Araya | King | Undisputed Attitude | 4:51 |
| 9. | "Bitter Peace" | Hanneman | Hanneman | Diabolus in Musica | 4:31 |
| 10. | "Death's Head" | Hanneman | Hanneman | Diabolus in Musica | 3:29 |
| 11. | "Stain of Mind" | King | Hanneman | Diabolus in Musica | 3:24 |
| 12. | "Disciple" | King | Hanneman | God Hates Us All | 3:35 |
| 13. | "God Send Death" |
| Hanneman | God Hates Us All | 3:45 |
| 14. | "New Faith" | King | King | God Hates Us All | 3:05 |
| 15. | "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" (Iron Butterfly cover) | Doug Ingle | Ingle | Less than Zero | 3:16 |
| 16. | "Disorder" (The Exploited cover, featuring Ice-T) |
|
| Judgment Night | 4:56 |
| 17. | "Memories of Tomorrow" (Suicidal Tendencies cover) |
|
| Undisputed Attitude (Japanese edition) | 0:53 |
| 18. | "Human Disease" |
|
| Bride of Chucky | 4:20 |
| 19. | "Unguarded Instinct" | King | Hanneman | Diabolus in Musica (Japanese edition) | 3:44 |
| 20. | "Wicked" |
|
| Diabolus in Musica (European & Japanese edition) | 6:03 |
| 21. | "Addict" | King | Hanneman | God Hates Us All (Japanese & Collector's edition) | 3:41 |
| 22. | "Scarstruck" | King | King | God Hates Us All (Japanese & Collector's edition) | 3:31 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Recorded | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ice Titan" (live) | Hanneman | Hanneman | March 1983, California | 4:18 |
| 2. | "The Antichrist" (rehearsal) | Hanneman |
| December 1983, Tom Araya's Garage | 2:53 |
| 3. | "Fight till Death" (rehearsal) | Hanneman | Hanneman | December 1983, Tom Araya's Garage | 3:30 |
| 4. | "Necrophiliac" (live) |
| Hanneman | September 1985, California | 5:00 |
| 5. | "Piece by Piece" (rough mix, includes bass guitar intro) | King | King | Reign in Blood studio sessions | 2:13 |
| 6. | "Raining Blood" (live) |
| Hanneman | November 1986, Canada | 3:09 |
| 7. | "Angel of Death" (live) | Hanneman | Hanneman | November 1986, Canada | 4:58 |
| 8. | "Raining Blood" (Jeff Hanneman home recording) |
| Hanneman | 1986, Jeff Hanneman's home | 2:00 |
| 9. | "South of Heaven" (Jeff Hanneman home recording) | Araya | Hanneman | 1988, Jeff Hanneman's home | 3:29 |
| 10. | "Seasons in the Abyss" (live) | Araya | Hanneman | June 1991, Michigan | 6:43 |
| 11. | "Mandatory Suicide" (live) | Araya |
| June 1991, Michigan | 3:59 |
| 12. | "Mind Control" (live) |
|
| Brazil, 1994 | 3:05 |
| 13. | "No Remorse (I Wanna Die)" (with Atari Teenage Riot) |
|
| Spawn: The Album | 4:15 |
| 14. | "Dittohead" (live) | King | King | May 1998, California | 3:03 |
| 15. | "Sex. Murder. Art." (live) | Araya | King | May 1998, California | 2:22 |
| 16. | "Bloodline" (live) |
|
| Hultsfred Festival, Sweden, 2002 | 4:02 |
| 17. | "Payback" (live) | King | King | Hultsfred Festival, Sweden, 2002 | 6:39 |
| No. | Title | Filmed | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Die by the Sword" (live) | March 1983 in California | |
| 2. | "Aggressive Perfector" (live) | 1983 in California | |
| 3. | "Praise of Death" (live) | September 1984 in California | |
| 4. | "Haunting the Chapel" (live) | May 1985 in Sweden | |
| 5. | "Necrophobic" (live) | 1986 in New York | |
| 6. | "Reborn" (live) | 1986 in New York | |
| 7. | "Jesus Saves" (live) | 1986 in New York | |
| 8. | "War Ensemble" (live) | June 1991 in Michigan | |
| 9. | "South of Heaven" (live) | June 1991 in Michigan | |
| 10. | "Dead Skin Mask" (live) | June 1991 in Michigan | |
| 11. | "Gemini" (live) | August 1996 in California | |
| 12. | "Kerrang! Magazine Awards '96: Heaviest Band Award" | Kerrang! Magazine Awards '96 | |
| 13. | "EPK for Diabolus in Musica" | ||
| 14. | "Stain of Mind" (live) | July 1998 in Tokyo, Japan | |
| 15. | "Bloodline" (live) | April 2002 by ESPN | |
| 16. | "Disciple" (live) | July 2003 in France | |
| 17. | "God Send Death" (live) | July 2003 in France |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Darkness of Christ" (live) | King | Hanneman | 1:48 |
| 2. | "Disciple" (live) | King | Hanneman | 4:30 |
| 3. | "War Ensemble" (live) |
| Hanneman | 5:40 |
| 4. | "Stain of Mind" (live) | King | Hanneman | 3:59 |
| 5. | "Postmortem" (live) | Hanneman | Hanneman | 4:20 |
| 6. | "Raining Blood" (live) |
| Hanneman | 3:25 |
| 7. | "Hell Awaits" (live) | King |
| 7:14 |
| 8. | "At Dawn They Sleep" (live) |
| Hanneman | 7:44 |
| 9. | "Dead Skin Mask" (live) | Araya | Hanneman | 6:32 |
| 10. | "Seasons in the Abyss" (live) | Araya | Hanneman | 4:32 |
| 11. | "Mandatory Suicide" (live) | Araya |
| 5:13 |
| 12. | "Chemical Warfare" (live) |
|
| 7:00 |
| 13. | "South of Heaven" (live) | Araya | Hanneman | 4:32 |
| 14. | "Angel of Death" (live) | Hanneman | Hanneman | 6:18 |
Personnel
editSlayer
- Tom Araya – bass, vocals
- Jeff Hanneman – guitar
- Kerry King – guitar
- Dave Lombardo – drums on disc #1 tracks 1–18, disc #2 track 15, disc #3 tracks 1–7, 10–11 and 16–17, disc #4 tracks 1–10 and 15–17, disc #5 tracks 1–14
- Paul Bostaph – drums on disc #2 tracks 1–14 and 16–22, disc #3 tracks 12 and 14–15, disc #4 track 14
- Jon Dette – drums on disc #4 track 11
Production
- Rick Sales – executive producer, worldwide representation
- Nich John – executive producer, worldwide representation, DVD producer
- Kevin Estrada – co-executive producer, photography
- Rick Rubin – American recordings
- Dino Paredes – American recordings
- Sanctuary Artist Management – worldwide representation
- Vlado Meller – mastering
- Steve Kadison – mastering-assistant
- Adam Abrams – project coordination
- Jeff Fura – DVD producer
- Kelly McFadden – DVD menu design
- Dave Wright – DVD authoring
- Scott Sill – DVD authoring
- Paul Kirsch – DVD editing
- George Fitz – DVD editing
- Vartan – art direction
- t42design – art direction, design
- Mark Weiss – photography
- Doug Goodman Archive – photography
- Slayer Archives – audio & visual materials
- Marc Paschke – essay & liner notes
- Eric Braverman – essay & liner notes
- Michael Kachko – marketing
- Scott D. Harrington – legal
- John Dittmar – booking agent
- Scott Sokol – booking agent
- John Jackson – booking agent
- Bill Vuylsteke – business management
- Angela DeSimone – business management
- Monroe Grisman – merchandise
- Ted Mattes – merchandise
References
edit- ^ CMJ New Music Report November 3, 2003. p. 23
- ^ a b c d e f Lord of the Wasteland (November 2003). "SLAYER INTERVIEW — TOM ARAYA". Metal-rules.com. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ a b c d e f Sharken, Lisa. "Kerry King... It's good to be King". Musiciansfriend.com. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ CMJ New Music Report September 22, 2003. p.21
- ^ Iann Robinson, Ryan J. Downey, Robert Mancini and Jon Wiederhorn (2003-09-25) "Metal File: Hard & Heavy News On Hatebreed, Slayer, Slipknot, Megadeth, Six Feet Under, Anthrax & More". MTV. Retrieved 2010-06-29
- ^ Iann Robinson , Ryan J. Downey and Jon Wiederhorn (2003-10-23) "Metal File: Hard And Heavy News On Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, Cradle Of Filth, Black Dahlia Murder & More". MTV. Retrieved 2010-06-29
- ^ a b c d Jurek, Thom. "Soundtrack to the Apocalypse - Slayer". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-06-29
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Soundtrack to the Apocalypse (Deluxe Edition) - Slayer". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-06-29
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Soundtrack to the Apocalypse (3 Disc) - Slayer". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-06-29
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Soundtrack to the Apocalypse (WEA International) - Slayer". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-06-29
- ^ a b c d e Begrand, Adrien (2004-01-23). "Slayer: Soundtrack to the Apocalypse". PopMatters. Retrieved 2010-06-29
- ^ "Unwrap these new box sets". USAToday.com. 2003-11-19. Retrieved 2010-08-04
- ^ a b "allmusic ((( Soundtrack to the Apocalypse > Credits )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-06-29
- ^ (2003-10-22) "Slayer: 'Soundtrack To The Apocalypse' Track Listing Revealed!" Archived 2003-11-02 at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2010-07-31
- ^ D'Errico, Tom (2004-01-08). "Music - Slayer - Soundtrack To The Apocalypse Review". 411mania.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ^ a b "Slayer - Soundtrack To The Apocalypse CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. pp. 741–742. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
rolling stone slayer album guide.
- ^ "Slayer Four-Disc Box Set SOUNDTRACK TO THE APOCALYPSE Features Album Tracks, Rarities and DVD of Live Performances; Five-Disc Deluxe Edition Adds Concert CD". PR Newswire. 2003-11-20. Retrieved 2010-08-04
- ^ Gubbins, Teresa. "Dallas Morning News, The : Slayer". The Dallas Morning News. 2003-11-07. Retrieved 2010-08-04