The Smithsonian and Slayer Team Up for a Thrash-Metal Mini-Doc

The Smithsonian Institutes's National Museum of American History will display a new mini-documentary highlighting the roots of thrash metal and more precisely, Slayer. The six-minute video titled Slayer: The Origins of Thrash in San Francisco, may have its blemishes, but it provides insight into how metal's most ominous rockers morphed into leading craftsman of their genre.

The film acts as part of the museum's Places of (Musical) Invention video series, detailing the story of how guitarist Kerry King met Tom Araya as the pair discusses their shared appreciation for Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, Loudwire reports. The two remain as the band's only founding members following the 2013 death of guitarist Jeff Hanneman and the departure of drummer Dave Lombardo. The new age line-up consists of current drummer Paul Bostaph and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt, who started stepping in for an ill Hanneman in 2011.

"Banging your head was a big part about metal," Araya told of the subgenre's progressed culture. "There's the thrashing up and down, and then there's the thrashing of the body with the head up and down and then there was the pinwheel. Eventually that evolved to a mosh, and these were all components that were part of punk."

"Slayer is a lifestyle," King said. "It's not just a band. It's not just the music. To these kids coming to the show tonight, they're going to church." Holt, who launched his career in another thrash band, Exoudus, explains how his San Francisco hometown welcomed the budding genre in the eighties."I think thrash has endured because the music's honest," Holt explained. "It's real. It's from the heart, and they see that."<

As of late, Slayer have been preparing for their latest LP, Repentless, slated for release on September 11. The group has already released a few songs from their upcoming album -- "When the Stillness Comes," "Repentless" and "Implode."

"I know there's gonna be naysayers," King told Rolling Stone of the new album in May. "I know there's gonna be people expecting us to fail, because so many things changed in the last six years. I'm prepared for that 'cause I know humans are just retards when they get on the Internet. But I know we put a good product together. I'm proud of it."

Tags

Slayer, Exodus