Radar, I agree with you on both accounts. Follow the leader just had the perfect feeling to it. I admit, i'd get a lot crazier any day to their self-titled cd, but despite all the raw, pure energy it had, Follow the Leader just seemed to suit them better.
And even now, their shows still rock harder than anyone elses. I have a friend, pretty much the size of a bear, who went to his first slayer concert when he was 12 (he's 20 now), and he admits that the pits at sick&twisted were crazier than any others that he'd ever been in. I'd have to say the only pits i've been in that came close were for Slayer and Sepultura at Tatoo the Earth.
Heresy - I agree with your description of Life Is Peachy, but you have to admit "Kill You" is arguably(sp?) one of their top 3 songs, if not their best.