Back in the old days we used to say that Slayer was the soundtrack to hell.

This song and "Angel of Death" are Slayer's most infamous tracks, but they're not necessarily the best introduction to the band. If you want a song from them that's a little more put-together and less chaotic, try "Seasons in the Abyss."

For a more “complete” song, I’d try South of Heaven, Seasons in the Abyss or even Angel of Death

Slayer has always been the most extreme of the thrash metal bands and were truly terrifying to non-fans - their lyrics were drawn from real life horrors... Musically, they were inspired by the speed and drive of hardcore punk rock. That edge would also turn Slayer concerts into mosh mayhem... fans would go crazy at every show and end up w/ serious injuries to the point that EMT's would be present before every show. Slayer were formed in 1981 in Huntington Beach, California when guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman were still teens out of high school... as was Dave Lombardo (drums) when he joined. Tom Araya (vocals & bass) was a bit older and had previously played in a band w/ Kerry King... Slayer were fans of Judas Priest and Venom, and debuted in the L.A. scene in 1982 wearing costumes and scary makeup, where they met Metallica and became fans... King and Hanneman started writing original songs for Slayer and the first one was 'Aggressive perfector'... In 1983, the band secured enough funds to record a debut album 'Show no mercy' for Metal Blade Records... it was mostly inspired by horror movies and dark fantasy... Like Venom, they were all about scaring people w/ Satan in their lyrics. In 1984, Kerry King actually did Megadeth's first few shows on guitar... just before Mustaine hired guitarist Chris Poland. King wanted to commit to Slayer... When they played San Francisco in '84, they met the band Exodus who convinced Slayer to get rid of the makeup and costumes... In 1986, producer Rick Rubin signed Slayer to his label Def Jam (which was a hip hop label then) and the band recorded 'Reign in blood'... which was the fastest metal record for years. Their lyrics about a nazi doctor in the track 'Angel of death' got record distributors refusing to put out 'Reign in blood'... Rubin had to use indie distributors and the album's buzz gave it huge notoriety and record sales. Slayer toned down the speed on the 1988 album 'South of Heaven'... and it actually sold better. The band released 'Seasons in the Abyss' in 1990 and were playing arenas at that point... They did the 'Clash of the Titans' tour in '91 w/ Megadeth and Anthrax (w/ Alice In Chains opening) and Slayer were in demand. Unfortunately, tensions in the band led to drummer Dave Lombardo being fired in 1992, replaced by Paul Bostaph (drums)... Slayer albums in the 90's did not do as well and by 1998, the band had gone down in popularity. Still, they persisted and courted controversy, releasing the 2001 album 'God hates us all'... which came as the 9/11 attacks occurred... Bostaph left the band in '02, and Dave Lombardo (drums) returned as Slayer's popularity began to climb again... In 2003, Slayer performed the entire 'Reign in Blood' album in concert and filmed a performance in Maine in 2004 where sprinklers of fake blood came down on stage during 'Raining blood'... It was released as the DVD 'Still reigning'. In 2010, Slayer played a number of 'Big 3' festival shows w/ Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax... a show in Sofia, Bulgaria was filmed for a DVD. Unfortunately, Jeff Hanneman (guitar) was sidelined in 2011 after his arm was infected w/ a flesh-eating bacteria... He survived, but had to be replaced on tour by Exodus guitarist Gary Holt... In 2012, Dave Lombardo quit the band due to financial disagreements. Paul Bostaph (drums) rejoined in 2013 ... But tragically, Jeff Hanneman died in 2013 from liver cirrhosis after years of alcohol abuse at age 50. Slayer released their final album 'Repentless' in 2015... They announced in 2017 that they were doing a 'farewell tour' as Tom Araya (vocals & bass) was looking at retiring... Slayer played their final show in L.A. in 2019. Slayer has more diverse songs u can check out - 'South of Heaven' ... 'Dead skin mask' ... 'Seasons in the Abyss' ... '213'... 'Stain of mind' 🔥🔥🤘🤘

Raining Blood is the wrong song to start with Slayer, but people keep making it a point to get people to react to it

do "war ensemble" for a more complete song. raining blood is very iconic tho.

When I saw them in 1985 as an opening band I noticed that the audience was there to see them and no one else. I had never heard of them before, and I knew right then that they were a band to watch.

R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman!!!! He was the reason i picked up a guitar 30 years ago. This is a brutal song for an intro into slayer. There are easier songs to introduce them such as dead skin mask, seasons in the abyss, south of heaven, 213, or spill the blood. Easier on the ears if you're just getting into them. Keep up the great reactions!!

Anything off the seasons in the abyss album would probably be a better drop off point for the Slayer newbie

Slayer isn’t for everyone but I learned to like them overtime, this is a band you have to warm up to overtime. I personally love them, check out dead skin mask by them maybe a little later on lol

SLAYER 🤘🏽

Recommending Angel of Death and Raining Blood as introductions to Slayer is like suggesting the bottom of one's foot as the the place for their first tattoo. Try something like South of Heaven, Skeletons of Society, Seasons in the Abyss or Dead Skin Mask.

Slayer is definitely an acquired taste. It’s a band that at first you’re like wtf? But then after a few songs you go, oh, now I get it, and you get an ear for it.

Good to see that Slayer is still to much for some people. Makes them even more metal. Because it's not for everybody.

I’ve been going to Slayer gigs since they started, and I was at the very last show. Slayer is the all-time thrash metal kings. Some of the craziest pits I’ve ever been in.

F%#KING SLAYER 🤘🏼🔥🔥🤘🏼

It’s thrash metal. It is supposed to be hard , fast, obnoxious, dark and confusing at times , blast of guitars and hard driving bass and drums . Atonal madness and chaos in their music tells part of the store of the music. Try Angle of death. By slayer

This is too hard for a first reaction, but you should listen to "Skeletons of society" or War ensemble. Slayer is a acquired taste, and this whole album is still the most brutal album ever done.

Finally you did Slayer. Now, his vocals improved many times over past 1986. Especially after 2000. I wish you'd react to "Black Magic", but the live version in Sweden, 2011. Though the second guitarist was extremely sick and couldn't perform, it's still amazing. Please give them a chance to impress you again - especially the live stuff.

For a new metalhead or a non metalhead listening to slayer would be like a non driver trying to drive a race car on a busy highway.... You need to go slow and you might later love to listen to slayer... If yoh want to give another shot to slayer try this songs. Season in the abyss, Bloodline, South of heaven...

Oh boy, here we go. EDIT: Yeah, this was definitely the Deep end of the pool you jumped into. I recommend Seasons In The Abyss as a more structured and easy to follow song that still captures their sound. That being said, Slayer isn't for everyone either.

The constant drum beating at the beginning was the, Angel of Death knocking on your door. lol

Love watching y’all’s reactions it’s like I’m listening for the first time all over again!! Mad love and support

Never really liked Slayer till I saw them in concert and now I love them. As stated already there are easier songs to sink your teeth into such as SOuth of Heaven.

Gurllllll i seen your face as you were listening to this masterpiece, you ain't gotta lie to kick it! Lol

The rhythm and melody may not be evident for new listeners right away, but it's there in spades. The live version from 1991 reign in blood/black magic (on youtube) is a sight to see.

Slayer are Slayer are Slayer🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘 Cheers from Germany 🇩🇪🤘👋

Not ready for Slayer. It happens.

His vocals are perfect for the style of their music. Aggressive.

Slayer is definitely an acquired taste.

I picked up this record when it came out and they've been my favorite band to this day. Slayer are the kings of thrash and the epitome of metal.

I love watching all these reactors listening to metal music and find these positive things to say....and then they get to Raining blood and go "I don't get this at all". Finally a metal anthem that is our own. 😂

The song is about Satan Returning to Power. But it's also the final song on the Album Reign in Blood

I can never keep a straight face during a slayer solo

Slayer is really awesome, but certainly a bit jarring if it's your first time. I would suggest something off of Seasons in the Abyss, like "Dead Skin Mask", or the title track "Seasons in the Abyss", for your next Slayer listen!!

Arguably, well, the greatest guitar riff ever! 1982, 83. In my opinion, still the greatest thrash metal album of all time.

Perfectly understandable reaction to RB for anyone not used to that style of metal. The song is supposed to be chaotic. It's supposed to be about a tortured soul taking violent revenge on heaven or something like that. The chaos as the end is supposed to show this violent revenge. But I perfectly understand the reaction. Several comments are mentioning other Slayer songs that have more structure or themes to them. I would recommend War Ensemble. It has more structure and a message you might enjoy. But is still super heavy and fast

Slayer is a really wild band. Some bands you didnt like after the first time and need some time to digest the wall of sound. Slayer at my first listen was Overkill, i was really oversaturated by the brutal chaos. But the seed grown, first i really enjoy the drums and thought "man thats pretty fucking great drumming". Then i sucked the riffs, they are awesome. I needed longer for the vocals but i was also hocked after i understand the vocals, the message and the simple purpose behind it. The solos are not my cup of tea, but they have their purpose too, it wouldnt be Slayer if the solos were to harmonic. The Chaos they create is a part that drives the story. Im really bored from pop and hip hop and allways the same 08/15 style. So i really love Slayer for their art. They dont make light songs, the images and stories are grim and so is the whole thing. I mean "Angel of Death" is literally a song about Mengele and the horrors of the Holocaust. Slayer is a band that tells a story honest and never sugarcoats, so you prepare for Brutal and you get Brutal. As a guitar player i adore Slayer, because modern Bands have now often 7- and 8-String guitars and very deep guitar tunings, but they only can sound half as heavy and extrem like Slayer. Slayer has only half step deeper tuned guitars, thats it. They make the whole Horror with just the arrangement, thats incredible hard. Songs for new listeners i would suggest the more soft songs with awesome riffs/drums: Seasons in the Abyss, Bloodline, South of Heaven If you have the guts and dont be shocked easily: Angel of Death

Every time I hear this song at the end and the rain, I expect to hear *riders on the storm.*

It takes a few listens to hear this as a proper song. Once you do you'll be addicted.

When you think it's as fast as it goes - it's goes bezerk 😈 That's SLAYER, and why I love the band 😈💕😈

nice react! I completely understand your thoughts, for those who haven't used their ears to this type of music it's a little difficult to digest and appreciate what the band is playing, I confess that when I started listening to slayer I didn't enjoy it very much either, but with time I started to to like I recommend you listen to the songs south of heaven and season in the abyss!!!

They are one of those bands that sort of grows on you. I didn't really listen to them when they were still active, but a few years ago I started to listen to them and really love what I hear. Seasons in the Abyss would be a much better listen for you if you give them a chance.

What doesn't kill us, become us more slayer´s fans. (Friederich Nischtze).

Lol they went straight in with this one 🤘🏼😎🤘🏼

Of the big 4 Slayer would definitely be that twisted brother who lived in the basement and watched nothing but horror movies 😈 the one that scared the other 3

Now that you've heard Slayer, it's time to get into Pantera.

A couple of thoughts to understand Slayer and maybe their fans better: 1. A personal thing: I got into Slayer when I was a teenager. I watched Headbangers Ball in MTV and the Reign in blood / Black Magic live video from Slayer came up. It's a pretty impressing live video, they seemed to me like the incarnation of heavy metal. And they played faster and more aggressive than anyone I had seen before. 2. Reign in blood is a 30 minute album. The title song is the last song. It is not a concept album, but still has its inner coherence. Reign in blood is the top of the album, is over the top chaotic. However if someone listened to the whole record its like the perfect ending. If you listened to it seperated, it's not as good. It's like the fooling around and drum berserk at the end of some live songs. If you just listen to the band going into the frenzy at the end of a song, you just hear the chaos, but not the song which preceeded it. 3. Art is a mirror, music is a mirror to society. Slayer is a very dark mirror. And it is not Halloween dark like Alice Cooper, Metallica or Ghost. Thats because I don't like the concept of Slayer being a horror film. Slayer is almost a snuff film. Slayers topics are very grim, they show the dark side of humanity. Satanism (Hell awaits, Reign in blood, Born of fire), War (Flesh Storm, Eyes of the insane, Chemical warfare), Nacism (Angel of Death), Serial killers (Dead skin mask), abortion (Silent scream) etc. 4. I would be suprised if you gave them another chance, but if you do, I suggest to do Angel of death, South of heaven or Chemical warfare (which is their best composition in my opinion) next.

It's a song about their perception of being trapped in Purgatory awaiting judgment and redemption :S

REIGN IN BLOOD!!! Not raining blood! I attended the reign in blood tour in down town Seattle in 1986 when this album came out. It was fucking incredible! 1986! No metal band can even compete with Slayer! Worlds apart.

I’ve never seen a reaction video to this song where no one head banged during the breakdown. 😊

As a Slayer enjoyer i recommend: "At dawn they sleep", "Payback", "Angel of Death", "Disciple", and whole "Hell awaits" and "Reign in Blood" albums are the best imo.

Music is a personal choice. Raining blood is purely chaos, and that's why its so good, for me its my favorite slayer song. The song is amazing because it is chaotic. Other amazing slayer songs are war ensemble, south of heaven, angel of death, seasons in the abyss. Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King are masters at their art. And Tom Lombardo is the absolute king of the double base.

Sorry but anyone who says they prefer Dave Mustaines vocals over literally anyone else's is weird to me

I like that y’all aren’t afraid to live dangerously! Like Judas Priest, you guys jump right into the deep end! Right on!

Love the honest reactions

This is all about the energy and speed.... and the epic riffs ofcource. Sometimes you don't want a smoth ride in a luxuary limousine, but instead hit the floor in a beast of a car, hear the engine roaring and make the tires smoke... this is that beast. But I'm happy with your honest reaction, that and that we can love different stuff is important and I totally respect your opinion.

The chaotic sounds of the instruments fits the subject matter of this song

Seasons in the abyss has always been my favorite slayer song.

Slayer is 1 of the big 4 - thrash pioneers. They were always the one that stayed the course and played their brand unapologetically. Of the big 4, they are #1 on my list because they remained true to themselves and their fans. 100% energy with unique sounding guitars, breath-taking drums, rock solid bass and Tom sings his style - it's just Tom. Obviously to each their own and I appreciate all views. Slayer was angst and speed and screaching guitars. When you get by the "chaos" of their tempo, they make more rythmic sense. Try South of Heaven or Seasons in the Abyss - they are a little bit more calm. 🤘

Thank you for your honest reaction 🤘 this song is loud, fast and controlled chaos🤘 listen to Seasons in the Abyss and Skeletons of Society. They are on the more rhythmic and melodic side… love your channel 🤘

listening to this whole album in a ride is insane, just quick 29 minutes of crushing you in the face... Definitely Slayer most savage album

Before even watching the reaction I'm thinking you went Full Blown Metal on this one lol , can't wait to see the reaction now

'Raining Blood' appears on Slayer's third album, Reign In Blood. The band's previous album, Hell Awaits, features longer & more complex songs. However, I believe it was guitarist Jeff Hanneman who said that he & Kerry King (Slayer's other guitarist) were getting bored with playing certain riffs over & over again. So for Reign In Blood, they decided to write shorter & more direct songs. When Reign In Blood was released in October of 1986, it featured 10 songs & ran for 28 minutes. If you want to check out some Slayer songs that are a bit more nuanced, I'd recommend songs like 'At Dawn They Sleep' from Hell Awaits (1985) & 'Chemical Warfare' from their Haunting The Chapel EP (1984).

Divine intervention put me in Slayer. I love this album !

First Slayer gig was 84'...right here in the Bay Area

now we have a line, best metal band ever....u need more

1986..CLASSIC ALBUM...got it when i was 9yrs old in 86. Changed my life and warped my mind..lol

Reaction to slayer song:"213" 👌

Kerry King played guitar on You gotta Fight and No Sleep til Brooklyn by the Beastie Boys.

Just for kicks...wear a Slayer shirt. Most of us fan will usually Yell SLAYER! Or F'N SLAYERRRRR!!!

Haha. This is one of my favorite bands and favorite songs. It’s not for everyone though. I appreciate y’all reacting to it, either way. You have to listen to everything to figure out what you like and what you don’t.

It's cool you don't have to like everything, just be honest and we'll take it

I had the same opinion of Slayer for a long time too, even being a Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax fan from the 80''s. They have since grown on me and i appreciate them much more today than ever.

Slayer goes hard. They were banned from playing at Disney.

As a jew, Angel of Death is my fav song by them.

A bit of backstory on this album. Rick Rubin had them pick up the tempo on this album and make it more chaotic to make a statement. Most of their other albums have more melodies, especially something from South of Heaven, especially the title track. On another note, Tom Araya is a much better vocalist than Mustaine

Thought it was fast...until 2:45 when Domenic Toretto hit the NOZ button.

Try Seasons in the Abyss, its more wussy tier friendly that you can do jazzercize to.

If I want to introduce Slayer to someone for the first time I put War Ensemble (the official video)...

You got it at the end CHAOS that's what war is

South of Heaven or Seasons in the Abyss would be something you would like. this song you chose is a song that is so iconic the aalbum will ggo down as the pivot for most thrash n speed that follows

Slayer is about intensity, power and straight forward kick you in the teeth metal. They dont follow the " norm" as far as tempo or chord changes.

Me gustó mucho tu opinión sobre el sonido y la composición de una canción, que buscas más la parte melódica qué el caos es totalmente válido... La mejor parte del metal es que es tan enorme y tiene mil formas distintas de sonido que lo que estés buscando en una canción seguramente haya una banda que lo tenga 🙌🏻 saludos desde Argentina

Don’t let this song not let you listen to the again so many better songs by them

Thrash is on a whole other level of metal and no one does it better than slayer.

Seasons in the abyss I think is more of what your looking for from slayer. They have a deep catalog

Seasons In The Abyss, South Of Heaven, Skeltons of Society, Dead Skin Mask, Die By The Sword, or Mandatory Suicide might be an easier introduction to SLAYER 😂 🤘❤️🇨🇦

fucking love slayer!!!

Some of the very best riffs in all of Heavy Metal, every guitarist/drummer/bassist/vocalist worth their salt knows at least a few of these riffs... Hail Satan!

+1 for you for your honesty. I feel differently about this socg, as I loved it since I was in Grade 5. Probably my favorite of Slayer's at the time.

getting kicked out of metallica was the best thing that ever happened to Dave

It's a pretty crazy album, I think I read somewhere it was short enough that the whole thing fit on one side of a cassette. Jesus Saves is probably the easiest song to ease you into the album. It's got the whole punk aspect of 2-3 minute songs that end abruptly nailed down. Listen to Jesus Saves 10 times and if you like it then the rest of the album will make sense, Raining Blood isn't the best song to attract new fans.

Slayers music is like pictures of war the pentagon won’t show

Stay in the kiddie pool ...Leave the deep end for the real SLAYER fans

Slayer is not for everyone. You should listen to the song not once but several times and read the text with understanding.

War Ensemble, Dead Skin Mask are a little more mainstream and relatable. You’ll probably like those a lot better, but realize that Slayer songs are MUCH harsher than the other big four. Once you get past the initial shock, check out Angel of Death…in thrash, nothing touches that song.

I really like 213, divine intervention is such an underrated album.

The song is actually about angels crying.. the singer was actually going to be a. Catholic priest haha funny side note

The end is supposed to just sound like chaos