High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Hell Awaits is the second studio album by the American thrash metal band Slayer, released through Metal Blade Records in 1985. The band`s previous release, Show No Mercy, became Metal Blade Records` highest selling release; as a result, producer Brian Slagel desired to release a second Slayer album. To that end, Slagel financed a recording budget (Show No Mercy was paid for by band members) and recruited several experienced producers to help in the studio.