South of Heaven

South of Heaven is the fourth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. Released on July 5, 1988, the album was the band's second collaboration with record producer Rick Rubin, whose production skills on Slayer's previous album Reign in Blood had helped the band's sound evolve.

South of Heaven was Slayer's second album to enter the Billboard 200, and its last to be released by Def Jam Recordings, although the album became an American Recordings album after Rick Rubin ended his partnership with Russell Simmons. It was one of only two Def Jam titles to be distributed by Geffen Records through Warner Bros. Records because of original distributor Columbia Records's refusal to release work by the band. The release peaked at number 57 and in 1992 was awarded a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.

In order to offset the pace of the group's previous album, Slayer deliberately slowed down the album's tempo. In contrast to their previous albums, the band utilized undistorted guitars and toned-down vocals. While some critics praised this musical change, others—more accustomed to the style of earlier releases—were disappointed. Despite this, the songs "Mandatory Suicide" and the title track became permanent features of the band's live setlist.

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Mandatory Suicide

by: Loudblast

Murder at your every foot step
A child's toy sudden death
Sniper blazes you thru your knees
Falling down can you feel the heat
Burn!!!
Ambushed by the spray of lead
Count the bullet holes in your head.
Offspring sent out to cry
Living mandatory suicide
Suicide, suicide, suicide, suicide
Holes burn deep in your chest
Raked by machine gun fire
Screaming skull sent out to die
Living mandatory suicide
Suicide, suicide, suicide, suicide
Lying, dying, screaming in pain
Begging, pleading, bullets drop like rain
Mines explode, pain sheers through your brain
Radical amputation, this is insane
Fly swatter stakes drive through your chest
Spikes impale you as you're forced off the crest
Soldier of misfortune hunting with bated breath
A vile smell, like tasting death
Dead bodies, dying and wounded, litter the city streets
Shattered glass, bits of clothing and human deceit
Dying in terror, blood's cheap - it's everywhere!
Mandatory suicide, massacre on the front line




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