Top 10 Slayer Songs

Photo: HeavyMezza89 [Public domain]

Undoubtedly, Slayer stands as one of the most formidable heavy metal bands to emerge from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1981 by vocalist and bassist Tom Araya along with guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, their intensely fast and aggressive style firmly establishes them as the most extreme entity among all metal bands.

In the band’s original configuration—Araya, King, Hanneman, and drummer Dave Lombardo—the trio of Araya, King, and Hanneman were the lyrical architects, with the guitarists crafting the musical compositions. Slayer’s music, characterized by its extreme nature, has courted controversy from the outset, with themes encompassing some of the darkest facets of existence such as murder, war, Nazism, Satanism, and a critical stance on religion. This has led to attempts to ban their albums, legal challenges, and significant backlash from religious communities and others. Nonetheless, Slayer’s influence on the metal genre is unparalleled, with their sonic, lyrical, and visual style leaving a lasting impact on numerous bands within the extreme metal genres, including death and black metal. Their third album, Reign in Blood (1986), is heralded as one of the greatest thrash albums ever produced.

Over the course of their career, Slayer has released twelve studio albums, two live albums, a box set, six music videos, two EPs, and a cover album comprising punk songs. Four of their albums have been certified gold. The band has been nominated for a Grammy Award five times, winning twice for the songs “Eyes of the Insane” in 2007 and “Final Six” in 2008, both from the 2006 album Christ Illusion. Between 1991 and 2013, they have reportedly sold five million albums. However, this chapter appears to be drawing to a close as Slayer announced in January 2018 that they would embark on their final world tour, which is currently underway. As we reflect on their illustrious career, let’s explore the 10 best songs they have gifted to the world of metal.

# 10 – Metal Storm / Face the Slayer

Kicking off our top 10 Slayer songs list is “Metal Storm / Face the Slayer” from the band’s debut album, Show No Mercy, released in 1983. This electrifying track concludes side one of the album with a bang. Its dynamic and thrilling instrumental opening sets a high-octane tone that feels perfectly suited for kicking off a live show, embodying the raw energy and intensity that Slayer would become known for. The outstanding musicianship displayed in this piece makes it an exemplary starting point for our list, showcasing the formidable talent and aggressive sound that defines the sound of Slayer. Are you ready for some more?

# 9 – At Dawn They Sleep

“At Dawn They Sleep” is a standout track from Slayer’s second album, Hell Awaits, released in 1985. This song encapsulates the quintessential ’80s Slayer sound, drawing heavily on horror movie themes with a particular focus on vampires. Diverging from Slayer’s typical approach to song length, this track is notably longer, offering a more expansive canvas for the band’s storytelling. Moreover, it showcases a technical prowess, especially in the guitar leads, highlighting the band’s instrumental skills alongside their thematic creativity. This combination of horror-inspired lyrics and musical complexity makes “At Dawn They Sleep” a memorable piece in the Slayer discography, reflecting the band’s ability to blend narrative and technicality in their early work.

# 8 – World Painted Blood

I love the opening riffs to this one. The dark opening (all their openings are dark) shifts gears rather quickly as the band explodes into a much faster-paced time change that will knock off your rock and roll metal sneakers. World Painted Blood I served as the title track to their eleventh studio album, which was released in 2009.

# 7 – Eyes of the Insane

From Slayer’s 2006 album Christ Illusion, this track is a testament to the band’s enduring intensity, proving that time has not diminished their ferocity. While the song may have a somewhat mid-paced tempo, it’s imbued with a disturbing atmosphere that amplifies the impact of its lyrics. The song delves into the harrowing experiences of a soldier in combat, with a particular focus on the Iraq War, which was a contemporary conflict at the time of the album’s release. This choice of subject matter underscores Slayer’s continued engagement with real-world issues, using their music as a lens to explore and comment on the brutality and complexities of modern warfare.

# 6 – Skeletons of Society

Another standout track from Seasons in the Abyss, this song showcases Slayer’s prowess not only in crafting intense music but also in weaving compelling narratives through their lyrics. The song explores the riveting perspective of an individual witnessing the apocalypse, adding a profound storytelling dimension to their catalog. With its mid-paced tempo, the track further demonstrates Slayer’s willingness to experiment and evolve within their established musical framework, proving that their creativity isn’t confined to a single formula.

# 5 – Dead Skin Mask

The song “Dead Skin Mask” delves into the macabre tale of Ed Gein, a notorious serial killer whose gruesome acts have inspired iconic horror movie characters like Norman Bates in Psycho and Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Through its chilling narrative, the song paints a vivid picture of Gein’s horrifying fascination with wearing his victims’ body parts, encapsulating the dark and eerie essence of his crimes. The overall tone of the song is deeply unsettling, effectively conveying the grim reality of Gein’s actions and leaving a lasting impression of unease.

# 4 – War Ensemble

“War Ensemble,” a track that epitomizes the furious energy of thrash metal, delves into the chaos and frenzy of combat experienced by soldiers on the battlefield. Tom Araya’s ferocious delivery of the line, “The Final Swing is not a drill, it’s how many people I can kill!” vividly conjures images of relentless warfare, where the music serves as a backdrop to the clash of opposing forces. This song, with its intense aggression and powerful imagery, captures the essence of war’s brutal reality, making it a standout piece in Slayer’s repertoire that resonates with the raw, unfiltered spirit of thrash metal.

# 3 – Angel of Death

Slayer’s most renowned track from their seminal album Reign in Blood encapsulates the essence of the band’s signature sound. The song erupts with Tom Araya’s piercing scream, setting the stage for one of metal’s most unforgettable riffs. This track stands as a pinnacle of metal music, renowned for its dark, intense, and undeniably powerful composition, making it one of the genre’s most celebrated anthems.

However, the song’s graphic depiction of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust in World War II, specifically referencing the notorious figure Joseph Mengele, ignited considerable controversy upon its release. Many critics and listeners interpreted the vivid lyrical content as a glorification of these heinous acts, leading to allegations of the band endorsing Nazism. Slayer has consistently refuted these claims, emphasizing that their intention was never to glorify such atrocities but to highlight the darkest chapters of human history through their music.

# 2 – Raining Blood

The title track of Reign in Blood, albeit with a clever wordplay in its spelling that suggests a deluge of blood rather than the rule of an evil monarch, serves as the climactic finale of the album. This track is a whirlwind of speed, tearing through the air at breakneck velocity before it descends into what is arguably the most iconic breakdown in metal history. It then catapults back into a frenetic thrash, culminating in a chilling sound effect of rain — leaving listeners with the eerie impression that the downpour might not be made of water. This masterful combination of speed, power, and atmosphere is what sets this track apart, making it a standout piece not just on the album, but in the metal genre as a whole.

# 1 – Seasons In The Abyss

We close out our Top 10 Slayer songs list with one of the band’s heaviest songs of all time. The song served as the title track to the fifth studio album by Slayer. It was released on October 9, 1990. Notably, this album marks the last instance featuring Slayer’s original lineup with drummer Dave Lombardo until his heralded return for the 2006 album Christ Illusion. Musically, Seasons in the Abyss is often seen as a bridge connecting the sonic landscapes of the band’s preceding works, South of Heaven (1988) and Reign in Blood (1986). Upon release, Seasons in the Abyss received favorable reviews and achieved a peak position of number forty on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Read More: 10 Best Slayer Albums