No antics, just Slayer

They are, literally, the big daddies of thrash metal and this concert promises to be epic. That’s exactly what comes through in the telephonic interview After Hrs had with Tom Araya (Tomás Enrique Araya Díaz), who’s been the band’s powerhouse vocalist for a better part of 20 years.

“The reason Slayer is coming now to perform in India is because no one ever asked us to perform there, till now!” is how Araya opens the interview, following it up with throaty laughter.  And ask him about what the audiences can expect from their maiden concert in the country and if it will be different from their concerts elsewhere and Araya says, “I think they are going to experience a different Slayer live from what they’ve seen in recordings and videos.” Getting more elaborate, Araya says, “When we do shows, it’s really about the music we do as a live band on stage. There’re going to be no gimmicks. We don’t really do a big show in terms of light and visuals. It’s about having good sound equipment in place and playing our music and I hope the crowds enjoy the energy we will create on stage as Slayer.”

A true inspiration for many a band in the city who do covers of Slayer’s hits, Araya will sure have the crowds singing, rather screaming along with him. The Chilean-American singer says, “It is surprising when I have audiences singing along, and it is even more surprising when they sing just as fast as I do! I am expecting the Bangalore crowd to do the same.” Of course, talking of the songs they will be performing here, Araya succinctly states, “It will be a mix of songs from all our albums.”

Talking about albums, Slayer is well on their way to produce their 13th studio album in 2013. Not exactly forthcoming about details about the album, all that Araya is willing to let on is “the new album is going to sound Slayer”.

Moving on, there’s the question of how the band has survived many a change and a few illnesses (Araya himself had an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in 2009 and then there was Jeff Hanneman, rhythm/lead guitarist and founding member of Slayer who contracted necrotising fasciitis in 2011) to continue to be such a strong creative force. “Wow!” quips Araya before adding, “I think it’s got to do with the fact that for us it is really about being true to our music.” “When you play a Slayer album, you know it’s something that hits you. You get music that is intense, lyrics that are crazy, but as a listener you know you are going to get ‘Slayer’. You are not going to be disappointed and I think that’s why we have been going on for so long.” And then as an afterthought he states what is a universal truth, “I will also say that music keeps you young.”

Now unlike other vocalists of major bands, Araya comes across as someone who underplays his own talent, this despite him being rated as one of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time by Hit Parader. What’s that special something he puts into the songs of his band  that makes the music stand out and he says, “Emotions! I try to put emotions into every song. I really put emotions into my screaming,” he says, sounding modest before he wraps the interview with another bout of warm laughter.