SLAYER - Haunting of the Chapel 12" Vinyl EP Album

- USA Release on Metal Blade Records with Bloody Axe Logo

Album cover of Slayer's 'Haunting the Chapel.' A black background with a white circular emblem featuring an inverted pentagram, outlined in red, with four ornate swords crossing behind it. The band's name, 'Slayer,' is in bold, blood-red angular letters across the emblem, and blood drips from the swords and title text.

Slayer - Haunting Of The Chapel

Slayer’s "Haunting the Chapel" isn’t just an EP — it’s a battle cry, a declaration that thrash was about to get nastier, faster, and more brutal than ever. Released in 1984, this unholy trinity of sonic violence—"Chemical Warfare," "Captor of Sin," and the title track—shows Slayer sharpening their sound into a razor-edged assault. The riffs are molten, Lombardo’s drums hit like war cannons, and Araya’s screams summon something primal. This wasn’t just a step toward greatness—it was a blood-splattered leap into metal history, a gateway into the chaos that would define their reign.

Album Summary: Haunting the Chapel 

"Haunting the Chapel" is an EP released by the thrash metal band Slayer in 1984 through Metal Blade and Enigma Records. Slayer's debut album "Show No Mercy" became Metal Blade's highest selling, leading to producer Brian Slagel wanting to release an EP. Recorded in Hollywood the recording process proved difficult when recording drums in a studio without carpet, although it resulted in drummer Dave Lombardo meeting Gene Hoglan who was to become an influence in his drumming style and speed. However Hoglan said he gave him a bunch of tips and never really gave him lessons, he was influenced by Slayer too.

 

Although originally featuring three songs, the record evidences a marked evolution from the style of their previous album, Show No Mercy, and is considered the first demonstration of the band's "classic" style displayed on later albums and is often described as a "stepping stone." The songs "Captor of Sin" and "Chemical Warfare" are regularly featured on the band's live set list. "Chemical Warfare" appears in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.

 

Music Genre:

Thrash Metal Music 

Collector's info: 

Rare 12" EP with 3 tracks , Lyrics of all the songs by Slayer are printed on the back of the album cover.

Album Production: 

Produced by Brian Slagel.

Brian Slagel is a pioneering figure in heavy metal, best known as the founder of Metal Blade Records in 1982. His label launched the careers of legendary bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Mercyful Fate, shaping the genre’s evolution. As a producer, he worked with Flotsam and Jetsam, Exciter, and Trouble, leaving a lasting impact. Learn more about Brian Slagel.

Sound/Recording engineer: Bill Metoyer, recorded at Track Records

Bill Metoyer is a legendary music producer and sound engineer known for shaping the sound of heavy metal. As Vice President and in-house engineer at Metal Blade Records in the 1980s, he worked with iconic bands like Slayer, Armored Saint, and Flotsam and Jetsam. His expertise in capturing metal’s raw intensity has left a lasting impact on the genre. Learn more on his biography page.

 Record Label: 

Metal Blade Records MBR 1024 / 71083 , Marketed by Restless Records

 Record Media Format

12" Vinyl EP Record

Year & Country:

1984 Made in USA
Band Members and Musicians on: Slayer Haunting of the Chapel
    Slayer's Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Tom Araya - Vocals, Bass
    Tom Araya is a legendary bassist and vocalist, best known for his role in Slayer, one of thrash metal’s most influential bands. Joining in 1981, he helped shape their aggressive sound, delivering powerful performances and thought-provoking lyrics. With classic albums like Reign in Blood and Seasons in the Abyss, his impact on metal remains undeniable. Read more
  • Jeff Hanneman - Guitar
    Jeff Hanneman was a legendary guitarist and founding member of Slayer, one of thrash metal’s most influential bands. His aggressive riffs, dark themes, and songwriting shaped the genre, co-writing classics like Raining Blood and Angel of Death. A fierce performer, his legacy lives on in metal history. Learn more about his impact on music on the Jeff Hanneman Biography page.
  • Kerry King - Guitars
    Kerry King, a pioneering thrash metal guitarist, co-founded Slayer in 1981, shaping the genre with aggressive riffs, blistering solos, and dark, intense songwriting. His signature playing style defined classics like Reign in Blood and cemented Slayer’s place among metal’s elite. With a fierce stage presence and lasting influence, King remains a metal icon. Read more in his biography.
  • Dave Lombardo - Drums
    Dave Lombardo is a legendary drummer, best known for his groundbreaking work with Slayer. Renowned for his lightning-fast double bass drumming and complex rhythms, he helped shape the thrash metal genre. Beyond Slayer, he played with Fantômas, Testament, and Suicidal Tendencies. His technical mastery and innovation have influenced generations of musicians. Learn more about Dave Lombardo here.
Complete Track Listing of: Slayer Haunting of the Chapel
    Side One:
  1. Chemical Warfare
    Side Two:
  1. Captor of Sin
  2. Haunting of the Chapel

Haunting The Chapel Album Photo Gallery:

Album Front Cover Photo
Album cover of Slayer's 'Haunting the Chapel.' A black background with a white circular emblem featuring an inverted pentagram, outlined in red, with four ornate swords crossing behind it. The band's name, 'Slayer,' is in bold, blood-red angular letters across the emblem, and blood drips from the swords and title text.

The album cover of Slayer's "Haunting the Chapel" is visually striking and embodies the dark, aggressive aesthetic of early thrash metal. The background is a deep, solid black, making the central design elements stand out starkly.

At the top, the album title, "Haunting the Chapel," is written in a jagged, dripping red font, evoking the imagery of blood splattered across the cover. The letters have an irregular, rough-edged appearance, intensifying the sinister tone.

The centerpiece of the cover is a white circular emblem with a large inverted pentagram at its core. The pentagram is outlined in red, reinforcing the album's ominous theme. The band's name, "Slayer," is emblazoned across the pentagram in an aggressive, angular font that appears almost slashed into place, giving it a raw, unrefined energy.

Behind the emblem, four swords cross at sharp angles, their handles adorned with ornate crosses, creating a striking contrast between religious symbolism and the band's rebellious imagery. Blood drips from the tips of the swords and the lower parts of the pentagram, adding to the violent and chaotic aesthetic.

At the bottom, a single sword is positioned horizontally, its blade resting in a small pool of blood, visually reinforcing the album’s aggressive and macabre themes.

This cover art perfectly encapsulates Slayer's early thrash metal ethos—unapologetically dark, chaotic, and dripping with intensity.

Close up of Side One record's label
Close-up of Side One label of Slayer's 'Haunting the Chapel' vinyl record. Features Metal Blade Records logo with a blood-dripping axe, a chain border, and black printed text displaying track details, including 'Chemical Warfare' by Hanneman/King.

This image shows a close-up of the Side One label of Slayer’s "Haunting the Chapel" vinyl record, released by Metal Blade Records. The label has a cream-colored background with black text and features Metal Blade Records' iconic logo at the top.

The logo consists of a stylized battle axe with a wrapped handle, partially embedded in a circular saw blade. The lower half of the blade is blood red, and several droplets of blood drip downward, reinforcing the label’s aggressive, heavy metal aesthetic. The name "Metal Blade Records" is printed in bold, capitalized, black letters just below the logo.

The border of the label is adorned with a continuous chain-link pattern, encircling the entire design. This adds to the industrial and hardcore feel of the presentation.

The label provides key information about the record. On the left side, the text "SIDE ONE" is displayed, followed by "33⅓ RPM," indicating the playback speed. On the right side, the catalog number "MBR 1024 / 71083" is printed.

Centered on the label is the band's name, "Slayer," in bold uppercase letters, followed by the EP title, "'Haunting the Chapel'," enclosed in quotation marks. Below, the track listing for Side One is displayed, featuring "1. Chemical Warfare – 6:01," with songwriting credits given to "(Hanneman/King)."

At the bottom, the publishing information states that the song is published by Bloody Skull Music, Amgine Music, and Bug Music (BMI), with administration handled by Bug Music. Finally, the label includes the copyright notice "© 1984 Metal Blade Records."

The record's center hole is visible in the middle of the label, surrounded by a subtle indentation, emphasizing its placement on the vinyl disc.

This label design captures the raw and aggressive essence of Slayer’s early years, perfectly complementing the band’s intense, high-speed thrash metal sound.

Slayer: The Thrash Metal Pioneers and Controversial Legends of Heavy Music

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SLAYER - Haunting the Chapel (Canadian & USA Releases) album front cover vinyl record

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