Soundtrack to the Apocalypse

Around the time Slayer thought of the album title for 2001's God Hates Us All, Soundtrack to the Apocalypse was considered an alternative name.[2] Vocalist Tom Araya then suggested that if they ever opted to issue a box set, Soundtrack to the Apocalypse would be the most appropriate title.[2] This inspired discussion regarding a possible box set release, which continued for several months.[2] The group decided that once the label agreed to a release, they would be given a little more time to compile the material.[2] Slayer approached the record company regarding a box set release, and discussions lasted roughly a year, since the band had to negotiate with the record company concerning plans they had with the box set which were not in their contract.[2] In September 2003, the record company granted permission to issue the box set and wanted an immediate release for the holiday season.[2]

Slayer submitted a range of material for the record company to choose from, instructing them to return a track list of what they felt to be the best items.[3] Following this, Slayer looked at the returned material; if the recorded track was a “good” performance but the band "didn’t care for the song", they asked the record company to select another track.[3]

Guitarist Kerry King commented "there's tons of stuff on there", citing the amount they had to choose from as a problem.[3] King himself owned five large Tupperware storage boxes full of material amassed over the years.[3] Having every magazine had ever seen the group inside, King also possessed roughly 70 VHS and 8mm videos dating back to 1983.[3] Nick John of Slayer’s management team sifted through every video and transferred them to DVD.[3]

Soundtrack to the Apocalypse's ideal release date was in early November 2003.[4] However, on September 25, 2003, it was announced by employees of MTV that the box set's release date had been pushed back to November 18, 2003.[5] On October 23, 2003, employees of MTV announced that the box set's release date was pushed back to November 25, 2003.[6] Since November 25, 2003, Slayer has released the box set five different times. The first three times were each released in 2003, the first being released through Universal Records,[7] and the other two, one being a Deluxe Edition version, were released through American Recordings.[7][8] The set's fourth release, which was packaged with only three discs, was released through American Records in 2006.[9] The box set's final release was in 2007, where it was released through WEA International.[10] It was also released in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2003.[11] It was produced with three Compact Discs, one DVD, and a booklet.[11]

The packaging was praised by PopMatters, insisting that the box set is "very nicely packaged, in a swanky fold-out digipak with a clear plastic slipcase. The 72-page accompanying booklet is outstanding, with extensive liner notes, loads of photos, and many memories from the band members." USA Today related: "[it is] a combination of the metal grinders' best-known tracks, with live and studio rarities plus 17 DVD selections. A deluxe edition ($100) adds a live disc and a few souvenir extras."[12] Soundtrack to the Apocalypse was produced by Matt Hyde, Dino Paredes, Rick Rubin, D. Sardy, and Andy Wallace and was executively produced by Nick John and Rick Sales.[13] The film on the fourth disc was directed by Di Puglia, Gerard.[13] The set includes many Slayer tracks since 1986 with several rarities and b-sides, and includes a remastered DVD of live performances spanning 20 years. A fifth disc was released with fourteen more tracks than the set's standard edition. The bonus live tracks were recorded at The Grove In Anaheim, California, on May 2, 2002, several months following the return of original drummer Dave Lombardo. The extra tracks are packaged in a "blood pack" sleeve, which is decorated with faux blood and skulls.[14]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
411mania.com	(8.5/10)[15]
AllMusic	[7]
Mojo	[16]
PopMatters	(favorable)[11]
Q	[16]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[17]

Although it did not enter any charts, Thom Jurek from AllMusic praised Soundtrack to the Apocalypse, rewarding the box set with four out of five stars. Jurek said it had "a whopping four CDs and one DVD." Jurek noted that discs one and two "feature tracks from Reign in Blood, and all the albums that proceed from it, and includes bonus cuts previously only released in Japan, and cuts from soundtracks." He also said that the third disc "is, appropriately, titled 'Shit You Never Heard' because that's what it is — sixteen tracks that have been unissued anywhere — from rehearsals, to in-concert recordings, demos, and one 'No Remorse,' a collaboration with Atari Teenage Riot, from the Spawn soundtrack," and that the fourth disc are "an electronic press kit video for Diabolus in Musica, and an appearance at the Kerrang magazine awards."[7] Adrien Begrand from PopMatters favoured the album, lauding the packaging but stating that "like any other CD box set that has come out in recent years, the band seems torn about whom to appeal to, longtime fans, or newcomers."[11] Begrand noted that the first disc "is especially great, as it captures Slayer at the peak of their career, starting with the classic 1986 album Reign in Blood."[11] PR Newswire said it was "a Slayer fan's ultimate experience,"[18] and The Dallas Morning News called it "a fat new audiovisual box set."[19]

Slayer

• Tom Araya – bass, vocals
• Jeff Hanneman – guitar
• Kerry King – guitar
• Dave Lombardo – drums on disc #1 tracks 1–18, disc #2 track 15, disc #3 tracks 1–7, 10–11 and 16–17, disc #4 tracks 1–10 and 15–17, disc #5 tracks 1–14
• Paul Bostaph – drums on disc #2 tracks 1–14 and 16–22, disc #3 tracks 12 and 14–15, disc #4 track 14
• Jon Dette – drums on disc #4 track 11

Production