Released 36 years ago this October
Slaughter in the Vatican
Exhorder · 1990
41 min · 8 tracks · thrash metal
A brutal fusion of thrash and groove metal, delivering relentless riffs and visceral growls that challenge conventional boundaries.
Top tracks — play these first
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Death in Vain — This track opens the album with an aggressive intensity that sets the tone for what’s to come, showcasing the band's signature blend of speed and groove.
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Homicide — With its catchy riffs and powerful chorus, this song exemplifies Exhorder's ability to balance brutality with melody, making it a standout anthem.
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Slaughter in the Vatican — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of violence and chaos while featuring complex rhythms that highlight the band's musical prowess.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong riffs and dynamic shifts, establishing Exhorder's unique sound in the groove metal scene.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a relentless tempo, which is maintained through the first half before shifting to more groove-oriented rhythms.
- Riffs are often layered with aggressive growls, creating a dense sound that emphasizes both speed and heaviness.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, alternating between thrash sections and slower, more rhythmic grooves, enhancing the dynamic range.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- wave-like pacing experiences
- intense focus on aggression
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Slaughter in the Vatican is Exhorder's debut studio album, released on October 23, 1990. At this point, the band was establishing their identity in the emerging groove metal scene, carving a niche with their distinct sound that combined elements of thrash and Southern rock influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Pantera· Sepultura· Machine Head
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Death in Vain 5:34
- 2 Homicide 3:14
- 3 Desecrator 6:08
- 4 Exhorder 5:12
- 5 The Tragic Period 7:08
- 6 Legions of Death 4:33
- 7 Anal Lust 2:35
- 8 Slaughter in the Vatican 7:21
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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