Slayer will be celebrating 40 years of ‘Hell Awaits’ in 2026 and has now announced a massive reissue for the legendary album. The band will release a massive 3LP box set that will include a reissue of the album, a full live album from 1985, a book, posters, and tons of replicated items from that era.
The reissue arrives May 15th, 2026 in three physical formats and digitally. Pre-orders are available now at: metalblade.com/slayer
“It’s the record where SLAYER became SLAYER.” That’s what Kerry King says about Hell Awaits. And he knows of what he speaks. As the band’s guitarist, co-songwriter, and co-lyricist, he was in the trenches with vocalist/bassist Tom Araya, guitarist Jeff Hanneman (R.I.P.), and drummer Dave Lombardo, creating what has become one of heavy metal’s greatest albums.
Vinyl Box Set:
3 LPs total: 7-track Hell Awaits + 18-track live bonus audio (Live from Bochum 1985):
• 60-page book (12″ size)
• Hell Awaits album (in gatefold sleeve, 1xLP) mastered and restored from original 1985 production tapes by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony in February 2025. Vinyl color = Fire Splatter
• Live from Bochum 1985 (in gatefold sleeve, 2xLP) – 18 live tracks never before released physically or digitally
• Replica ticket from the Bochum show
• Replica Hell Awaits tour laminate
• Hell Awaits tour poster (German dates)
• Slipmat
• Band posters
• Replica merch flyer
• Replica Satanic Wehrmacht newsletter
• 2 flyers
“Blood” Filled Liquid Vinyl (SLAYER store exclusive – Ltd. 666 worldwide):
• 7-track Hell Awaits album mastered and restored from original 1985 production tapes by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony in February 2025
• “Blood” filled liquid vinyl – gatefold
CD Earbook:
Earbook includes 3xCDs – 7-track Hell Awaits CD + 18-track live bonus audio (Live from Bochum 1985):
• Hell Awaits album (1xCD) mastered and restored from original 1985 production tapes by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony in February 2025
• Live from Bochum 1985 (2x CD) 18 live tracks never before released physically or digitally
• 60-page 11″ book
• Poster
Digital:
Includes 7-track Hell Awaits + 18-track live bonus audio (Live from Bochum 1985):
SLAYER – Hell Awaits (40th Anniversary) Track Listing:
01. Hell Awaits
02. Kill Again
03. At Dawn They Sleep
04. Praise of Death
05. Necrophiliac
06. Crypts of Eternity
07. Hardening of the Arteries
08. Hell Awaits (Live from Bochum 1985)
09. Aggressive Perfector (Live from Bochum 1985)
10. Captor of Sin (Live from Bochum 1985)
11. The Final Command (Live from Bochum 1985)
12. Kill Again (Live from Bochum 1985)
13. Crypts of Eternity (Live from Bochum 1985)
14. Fight Till Death (Live from Bochum 1985)
15. Necrophiliac (Live from Bochum 1985)
16. Haunting the Chapel (Live from Bochum 1985)
17. Hardening of the Arteries (Live from Bochum 1985)
18. Black Magic (Live from Bochum 1985)
19. Die by the Sword (Live from Bochum 1985)
20. The Antichrist (Live from Bochum 1985)
21. At Dawn They Sleep (Live from Bochum 1985)
22. Show No Mercy (Live from Bochum 1985)
23. Evil Has No Boundaries (Live from Bochum 1985)
24. Chemical Warfare (Live from Bochum 1985)
25. Praise of Death (Live from Bochum 1985)
