Tom Araya thrash metal WPAP illustration trending now. Tom Araya is best known as the bassist and lead vocalist for the legendary thrash metal band Slayer. He was born on June 6, 1961, in Viña del Mar, Chile, and his family moved to the United States when he was a child. Araya's aggressive, distinctive vocal style and his energetic performances helped define Slayer's sound, particularly during their peak years in the 1980s and 1990s.