PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Slayer’s track ‘Repentless’ is the title track for the American thrash metal giants’ eleventh studio album. This video is brilliant for metal fans and cinema buffs alike – with it being director and horror fanatic BJ McDonnell’s (Hatchet III and Avengers: Age of Ultron) first ever music video.
The video features cameo appearances from iconic actors made famous from some killer horror films – Danny Trejo (Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn), Derek Mears (Friday the 13th), Tyler Mane (Halloween) and Jason Trost (Hatchet III) playing our murderous protagonist.
With McDonnell choosing to use unconventional camera techniques, such as hand-held snippets in bloody fight scenes, character POVs and shaky camera movements, he successfully creates a feeling of immersion for the viewer, making the audience feel as if they are there witnessing the violence first hand. When paired with Slayer’s brutal track, this video seems to be unstoppable as it has the perfect fusion of Slayer’s performance along with the narrative portrayed by the all-star onscreen line-up.
Repentless is filmed in what was previously a womens’ prison – reportedly closed down in 1997 due to earthquake damage. Even filming in such real locations instead of a purpose-built set automatically enhances the visual aesthetic and boosts the performance of the on-screen characters. A perfect setting for McDonnell’s grizzly offering of a first music video.
There is the idea that this video has already been done though – anybody remember Metallica’s video for St. Anger? The band playing amongst a horde of criminals in a prison did strike a few bells when I first watched it but luckily this video is different enough to set it apart. Unlike their brothers in the Big 4, Slayer’s take on the idea creates an element of chaos using an on-screen narrative, with prison guards being overrun with the band ultimately needing to dodge prisoners as they come flying at them instead of playing to them in a Metallica-esque way.
Check out our review of Slayer’s latest album ‘Repentless’ here
