User:CrowzRSA/Sandbox/Sandbox 2/Slayer/Decade of Aggression

Background

While touring on the Clash of the Titans tour to promote the 1990 studio album Seasons in the Abyss, separate sections of the Decade of Aggression album were recorded on October 14, 1990, March 8, 1991, and July 13, 1991, however, Allmusic said that Rick Rubin's "production seems to be in terms of shaping the live sound to make it sound like this is all one gig." It was released through Def American Recordings on Oct 22, 1991, almost a month after Nirvana's Nevermind.

“ Decade of Aggression. That was recorded over two shows, I believe…The main disc was [disc] one and then we had other songs that we played a different night that we added to the package, and that was our first live experience, the first anyone could have Slayer live unless it was a tape-trading kind of thing from way back when. So it was kinda cool, you know, we were proud of it." ” — Kerry King

The release was intended to give them time to decide what their next album's style would be. Text in the book The Great Rock Discography said that it was released after the band had gained popularity, saying "Slayer had finally made it into the metal big league and summing up the first blood-soaked chapter of their career, the group duly released the live double set."

Lombardo's departure

Lombardo departed after the double live album's release on October 22, 1991, citing personnel conflicts, and would go on to form the groove metal band Grip Inc.

Critical reception

Thom Jurek, a staff writer for Allmusic, gave the album a rating of three out of five stars. Jurek gave notice to the album's sound quality, telling readers that it does not "capture the sheer overblown intensity of the unit in a concert setting," but that it comes closer than one may imagine. Jurek also gave note to how Rick Rubin made the two-discs sound like it were recorded at one gig, writing "Producer Rick Rubin stays out of the way; his production seems to be in terms of shaping the live sound to make it sound like this is all one gig." Entertainment Weekly's David Browne said that it was an "accurate aural snapshots of what it's like to be part of a crowd craning to see the action on a stage that seems two miles away." Browne also said that "they're perfect examples of the sad current state of the once-proud live rock album." Billboard "It's a double live album that approaches the league of Ted Nugent's Double Live Gonzo!, The Who's Live at Leeds, and the Allman Brothers' At Fillmore East when it comes to representing a band perfectly."

Chart positions

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Billboard 200	55
Media Control Charts	77
UK Album Charts	29

ISBN 1849383863