Formed in California in 1982, Slayer is an American thrash metal band who have gone down as one of the most influential metal bands of all time. As an original member of the “Big Four” of Thrash Metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax and Metallica, Slayer has shaped the landscape of extreme metal. Vocalist-bassist Tom Araya and guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman have released twelve studio albums and have been nominated for four Grammy Awards and won two (1998 and 2007). In addition to selling millions of albums, Slayer has become particularly known for their typically intense live performances. The band has been on indefinite hiatus since January 2019, following the death of Hanneman in 2013 and Hanneman's replacement, Gary Holt, joining Exodus in 2019.