Reign in Blood is the third album and major label debut by the American thrash metal band Slayer. Released on October 7, 1986, Reign in Blood was very well received by both critics and fans, and was responsible for bringing Slayer to the attention of a mainstream metal audience. Kerrang! magazine said the record was "the heaviest album of all time," and a breakthrough in thrash metal and speed metal. Alongside Metallica's Master of Puppets, Reign in Blood is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time.