South of Heaven

South of Heaven is the fourth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on July 5, 1988, by Def Jam Recordings. Given the frenetic pace of Reign in Blood, Slayer made no attempt to top it on South of Heaven. Rather, the band offset and complemented Reign in Blood by deliberately slowing the tempo down on South of Heaven, as well as by utilizing undistorted guitars and toned-down vocals.

It was the second Slayer album to be produced by Rick Rubin and the last to be released by Def Jam, although the rights were transferred to Rubin's new label Def American Recordings after Rubin ended his partnership with Russell Simmons. The album was one of only two Def Jam titles to be distributed by Geffen Records through Warner Bros. Records, as Def Jam's then-distributor Columbia Records refused to release material by the band.

South of Heaven received critical acclaim, with some praising the change in the band's sound, while others more accustomed to the style of their earlier efforts were somewhat disappointed. Nonetheless, it became the band's second album to enter the Billboard 200, peaking at number 57, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1992. The songs "Mandatory Suicide" and the title track have since become near constant fixtures in the band's live setlist.