SLAYER — Live Undead (review)

SLAYER — Live Undead album cover EP · 1984 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Live Undead" is a live album release by US thrash metal act Slayer. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in November 1984 and along with the "Haunting the Chapel" EP from June 1984 it bridges the gap between the band´s debut and 2nd full-length studio albums, "Show No Mercy (1983)" and "Hell Awaits (1985)". The album notes don´t inform us exactly when or where the album was recorded, but according to various different sources "Live Undead" was recorded at Tiki Recording Studios in Glen Cove, New York sometime during the autumn of 1984. It was recorded live in the studio in front of a small crowd of people, but was originally intented to be a genuine live recording at a venue. Persistent rumours have it that the audience noises were overdubbed later. This has never been 100% confirmed by neither producer Bill Metoyer nor by Slayer, but the former has given a couple of hints during interviews that point in that direction.

The 7 tracks on the 23:21 minutes long album appear in their studio versions on the band´s debut full-length studio album "Show No Mercy (1983)" and on the "Haunting the Chapel (1984)" EP. 5 tracks from the former and 2 tracks from the latter. Overdubs/live in the studio recording or not, the tracks are delivered with fierce conviction and raw power, and already this early on in the band´s career established their reputation as a great live act. The sound production is also of good quality and to my ears these versions of the tracks are much better than their original studio versions. They are generally played in a faster pace and with a more aggressive attitude. Tom Araya´s spoken introductions to a couple of the tracks are also really great and provide the recording with an authentic live feel. His introduction to "Die by the Sword" is what I characterize as legendary: "They say the pen is mightier than the sword. Well I say fuck the pen! Cause You can Die by the Sword". His introduction to "Captor of Sin" is quite provocative in nature and has often met a lot of criticism, but it fits with the lyrics.

The audience noises may or may not be fake/overdubbed, but it´s not something I´ve ever thought about before I read about the rumour. This just sounds like a really professional live recording with a band in top form in front of an active enthusiastic audience. Of the early releases by Slayer (pre-"Reign in Blood (1986)"), "Live Undead" is at the top of the list for me. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
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