Slayer’s “Repentless” Makes Career-Highest Chart Debut

Repentless, the 12th studio album from the iconic thrash/metal band SLAYER and the first without beloved founding member Jeff Hanneman, makes the highest Billboard debut in the band’s 32-year recording career, coming in at #4 on the Top 200 Album Charts and scanning 50,000 units.  Slayer’s Christ Illusion had been the band’s highest debut, premiering in 2006 at #5.  Repentless, the band’s first album produced by Terry Date (Slipknot, Soundgarden, Deftones), also lands at #2 on Billboard’s Current Albums, Top Rock Albums and Hard Music charts.

Repentless now also holds the record as the band’s career-highest chart debut in Germany (#1), Holland (#2), Australia (#3), New Zealand (#8), the UK (#11) and on the Japanese International Chart (#1), and bowed at #3 in Finland, #4 in Belgium, and #5 in both Sweden and Greece.  Additionally, the album debuted in the Top 10 in France (#7), Italy (#8), Hungary (#9), and Japan, (#10).

“The entire Nuclear Blast global team thanks Slayer and their loyal fans everywhere for the tremendous first-week success for Repentless,” said Gerardo Martinez, NB’s General Manager, USA.  “Slayer made an amazing album that stayed true to who the band is, and the fans’ overwhelming response is proof of that.”

“Repentless,” the album’s first music video, made its premiere on the album’s 9/11 release date and has since logged more than 1.9 million YouTube views and is north of two-million views on Slayer’s Facebook page.  The video was directed by BJ McDonnell (“Hatchet III”), filmed at the Sybil Brand women’s prison in East Los Angeles, and features copious amounts of blood, grizzly murders, and cameo appearances by some of Hollywood’s most recognized anti-heroes, including Danny Trejo (“From Dusk Till Dawn”) and Tony Moran (“Halloween”).  The “Repentless” video can be viewed

Repentless is Slayer’s first release since 2011’s Grammy-nominated World Painted Blood, and likely the most challenging album of the band’s career.  The album marks the first time Slayer has worked with producer Terry Date, drummer Paul Bostaph’s return to the recording lineup since 2001’s God Hates Us All, guitarist Gary Holt’s first appearance on a Slayer album, and first release on Nuclear Blast.  With Repentless, Slayer  – Tom Araya/bass, vocals, Kerry King/guitars, Paul Bostaph/drums, and guitarist Gary Holt – continues to unleash its aggressive and focused sonic assault, remaining crushing and brutal, while steadfastly refusing to trade its musical integrity for any reason.

In support of Repentless, Slayer heads back out on tour next month.  Dates are below:

OCTOBER

6    Namba Hatch, Osaka, Japan

8    Studio Coast, Koto, Japan

10   Saitama Super Arena, Saitama-Shi, Japan

12   The Republik, Honolulu, HI

13   The Republik, Honolulu, HI

25   013, Tilburg, Netherlands

26   Zenith Paris, Paris, France

27   Komplex 457, Zurich, Switzerland

30   Santana 27, Bilbao, Spain

31   Coliseum, La Coruna, Spain

NOVEMBER

1    La Riviera, Madrid, Spain

3    Razzmatazz, Barcelona, Spain

5    Alcatraz, Milano, Italy

7    Planet.tt Bank Austria Halle Gasometer B, Vienna, Austria

8    Haus Auersee, Leipzig, Germany

10   Zenith, die Kulturhalle, Munich, Germany

12   Columbiahalle, Berlin, Germany

13   RuhrCongress, Bochum, Germany

14   MHPArena, Ludwigsburg, Germany

16   Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt, Germany

17   Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium

19   Rockhal, Esch Sur Alzette, Luxembourg

21   Newport Centre, Newport, UK

22   Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, UK

24   O2 Apollo Manchester, Manchester, UK

25   O2 Academy Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

27   O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

28   O2 Academy Leeds, Leeds, UK

30   O2 Academy Brixton, Brixton, UK

DECEMBER

3    Hal 14, Helsinger, Denmark

4    Spektrum, Oslo, Norway

5    Lisebergshallen, Goteborg, Sweden

9    Stadium Live, Moscow, Russia