Haunting The Chapel  by Slayer

The 1984 EP Haunting The Chapel by Slayer is considered the ultimate "ground zero" for the birth of death metal, serving as the bridge between traditional heavy sound and ultimate extremity. Although the band remained faithful to thrash, the innovations of this record laid the foundations for what followed. Between their debut and Hell Awaits, this four-track mini-album served as the ultimate declaration of war.

With the iconic Chemical Warfare opening the gates of hell, the band abandoned heavy metal influences for a darker, faster, and more ominous sound. It was the moment when Dave Lombardo introduced the double bass drum into his set for the first time —after advice from Gene Hoglan— creating the relentless rhythm that became a trademark of the genre.

The EP also includes Captor Of Sin and Haunting The Chapel, while later editions added Aggressive Perfector. It is not merely a supplementary release; it is the ground zero where thrash mutated into something more primitive and violent, inspiring the entire subsequent wave of death metal.