Review by Brian McLean
Attempting to improve upon a metal classic that has stood above and beyond other releases for the last 18 years may make no sense at all. There’s the risk of tarnishing the product.
With the release of Still Reigning on American Recordings, the second DVD offering by Slayer, the Los Angeles thrashers attempt to take their classic Reign in Blood a step further in a visual sense.
Recorded at the Civic Center in Augusta Maine on July 11, 2004, Slayer captured on film their 1986 major label debut Reign in Blood from start to finish.
The DVD features the original line up of Tom Araya, Jeff Hanneman, Kerry King and Dave Lombardo in top form blazing through Reign’s ten tracks in it’s entirety from “Angel of Death” to “Raining Blood."
The set concludes with a spectacular finish, a full blown rain storm of blood for the final 45 seconds of “Raining Blood”. Something Hanneman has thought about since the release of Reign in Blood and the first time the effect had been used.
A fitting description would be a blood storm from Hell.
Due to a technical glitch with his guitar, Hanneman was forced to step aside and address the issue thus missing the initial down pour. Once he stepped back on stage eventually locating his positioning for the storm, Hanneman received his baptism of blood, just not to the extreme as his band mates.
The storm completely soaks the band members, their instruments and the stage giving the fans in attendance and viewers of the DVD a completely different way to experience Slayer’s Reign in Blood.
The Reign in Blood footage comes from late in the Slayer set when the band treated the fans to their legendary release. Araya is in top form with his unique sense of humor when speaking with the crowd whether during the Reign in Blood portion of the DVD or other parts. His “maggots” line will forever instill a crunchy visual for the song “Necrophiliac." A sick sense of humor is needed.
Along with the ten tracks from Reign, there’s six bonus songs shot the same night including “War Ensemble," “Hallowed Point," “Necrophiliac," “Mandatory Suicide," “Spill the Blood,” and “South of Heaven."
Ten cameras were used for the production which provided black & white and color footage. Various angles were utilized capturing the band on stage as well day time footage with the band, after show back stage commentary and interviews touching on topics such as Slayer’s early days and the fearlessness of Slayer fans in general.
The disc runs approximately 75 minutes and can be purchased for a reasonable price at any retail outlet.
Whether a risky move or not, Slayer delivers the goods, blood and all to consumer. The only things that are tarnished with the release of Still Reigning are the items stained in blood.