Top 10 Slayer Songs

If you are young and weren't around when Slayer first started putting out albums, maybe Raining Blood is the first song you heard so it is "special to you" or something, and you thereby think it is the best. If you are old enough to have been around when Slayer first started then you probably have a different perspective, that being that no way on God's green earth is Raining Blood the best, it's not even in the top 10 best, maybe barely squeaks into the top 20. There are at least 15 or 20 Slayer songs that'd eat this song for lunch.

In a true #1 song by any band, there should be one of the greatest riffs of the band, one of the greatest vocal performances, solos, drumming etc. If they aren't found in the same song, there should still be some balance. When people talk about the heaviness, aggression, riffs, intro found in this song, they tend to forget how horrible, almost embarassing the solo is. Same for Angel of Death.

My Favorites (Best To Worst)
1. Seasons In The Abyss (Seasons In The Abyss, 1990)
2. Hell Awaits (Hell Awaits, 1985)
3. Angel Of Death (Reign In Blood, 1986)
4. South Of Heaven (South Of Heaven, 1988)
5. Raining Blood (Reign In Blood, 1986)
Seasons In The Abyss is #1 because it reminds me of Orgasmatron by Motörhead, which is my favorite Motörhead song. Hell Awaits is a scary song. Angel Of Death has a fantastic solo. South Of Heaven has a great riff. Raining Blood has all of those things, but not quite as good, in my opinion.

The fastest a metal can be while still sounding good and really HEAVY- a little faster and it would've been stupidly fast. The riffs in this song is unmatched and the vocals are very pronouncing! A real classic indeed for any hardcore people who likes fast and heavy stuff.

Raining blood is barely 3 minutes long without those rain effects at start and end. The ending to that song is also absolutely horrible as well. This song on the other hand is simply the best Slayer song ever. This has a really really fast section, a break section, chaotic solos and the 2nd is also awesome. Not to mention that high pitch legendary scream at start and Dave's absolutely fantastic double bass drumming. People vote for it man come on man. This is the best song ever.

Definitely the best Slayer song ever recorded (in my humble opinion the best thrash metal song of all times). It's full of double bass drumming at really high speed, has great lyrics and guitar riffs. Everythig about it is perfect. I guess it's really hard to find equally good song made by any other thrash metal band (no offense to Metallica/Anthrax/Kreator) except for few ones. Let's say Metallica's Fight Fire with Fire is one of those songs.

In the end, I cannot rate it lower than 666/10 m/

Jeff Hanneman wrote every single song on this top 10 except Hell Awaits which is Hanneman and King co-written. WHo on earth said "great riffs by King"? Another fanboy incapable of reading the writing credits in the liner-notes. Hanneman wrote the entire thing.

Slayer's masterpiece. Better than Raining Blood in my opinion. Incredible drumming, blinding guitar riff, amazing guitar solo, and Tom Araya's voice is so powerful. Perfect way to kick off Slayer's best and heaviest album!

Why are Raining Blood and Angel of Death more popular Seasons in the Abyss?

Easy: because people who look up the most popular extreme thrash band do it because they want to headbang mindlessly. Not if this song wasn't suitable for that, but it's probably the closest Slayer got to a "ballad" (although nowhere near it).

My opinion here: a good metal song has to remain good without the heaviness. Distortion and speed doesn't make up for poor songwriting. This song could have a great hard rock cover, and it's not the case for Raining Blood or Angel of Death. I am not saying that metal songs should be "poppy", I am saying that people who like a certain genre will like lots of songs just because of featuring the genre requirements, not for the song itself.

Slayer at full speed is amazing. It is also amazing how they can get the same sense of evil while moving at 1/3 speed. Awesome super creepy just amazing.

In my opinion one of their few, if not their only good song. It's amazing when these guys actually slow it down so the song has a distinctive tune. Much better than rubbish like angel of death, the drumming from Lombardo is legendary, one of the best drum performances of all time. Great tempo transitions too, with an awesome riff!

Raining Blood is a good song, but is so over rated, Slayer have better songs than raining blood, in my opinion Seasons in the abyss, South of Heaven and Dead Skin Mask are way better songs, I just love the Dark and Evil atmosphere of these songs.

This song on the Unholy Alliance DvD with Jeff Hanneman striking his guitar down in the main riff was the moment that made me play guitar! I'll never forget that moment and thanks to Jeff Hanneman I picked up the greatest instrument ever and learned to pour my emotion into music! Thank you Hanneman you will always be the reason I play guitar and always be a part of one of the most important and meaninful moments in my life

I love all of South of Heaven, but especially this song. To me, there's someting just so very dark about that album, and I love that. I love my music being so dark that I can feel it seeping off into my ears and affecting my very soul, blackening it a little bit more.

Easily the best Slayer song in my opinion. Must have replayed this song dozens and dozens of times. Blasting this song or any Slayer song for that matter while driving makes for the best driving experience. Just don't get pulled over for speeding. Haha

This riff aside from Mandatory Suicide's riff is the most wicked sound in Slayer's entire discography. Absolutely my favorite album simply because of the evil riffs and overall musicianship.

This is, in my book, the absolute best song in the Slayer catalog. It's got everything. Fast riffs, fast solos, extremely difficult fast drumming, fast bass, intense vocals. It has a tasteful breakdown mid song that just increases everything about the song. Difficult song!

Not top ten material. By 1990, Slayer already used its full potential and ideas in fast extreme thrash songs. Silent Scream one album before is basically the exact same song except with a better chorus.

0-0-0 intro as usual, forgettable solo as usual

The way this song is structured is beautiful. Very powerful words chosen to express the violence of war. Relentless guitar work backed by brutal drum work. For me War Ensemble should sit at #1... Thanks Jeff H. RIP bro!

Their best war song in my opinion. Seasons of the Abyss does deserve to be higher than this, but I feel like War Ensemble is better than Angel of Death.

This song is epic not because it is evil like raining blood but because it represents the struggle of good or evil. The main character of the song comes out in the biggining talking about how he has been betrayed and is now fighting to not become a pawn of satan. But in the end he is still struck down.

This definitely deserves a spot in the top ten. One of the best songs from their early career, and probably one of the best songs overall. Great vocals, instrumentation, and lyrics all combine to create an amazing song

Why is this not in the top 10? It's my favorite Slayer song and it easily deserves to be top 5. People need to wake up and see that there is more to slayer than raining blood.

Riffs are very very death metal type. I love this song and I playthis daily on my guitar. Rainin Blood just is not better than this. Sorry for my English.

This song is insane. Relentless guitar work, a very sinister intro, and Tom does some fast vocals on it. Pure relentless aggressive thrash metal. Exactly what Slayer is known for

The best slayer's song ever... It should be number 1 and then raining blood in no 2...
Best song arrangement and very insane riff.. Plus crazy double paddle

If you don't think it's one of their top3 songs, you're not a Slayer fan. This may just be the best metal song ever.

Possibly the most evil song ever written. A perfect opener for an album and live shows! Amazing piece of art... Evil art

A song so angry and blistering, this will scare the limbs off mainstream pop fans! This song maybe can instigate and free minds of pop fans. Anyways, this song has loudness, heaviness, chaos, and pure ANGER! Somewhat reminiscent of death metal (cookie-monster music according to Slayer) to be honest. Tom sounds like he is angrily abusing his larynx by yelling lyrics into a megaphone, Jeff and Kerry totally ABUSE and TORTURE their guitars, while Paul beats up his drums. Awesome song!

On September 11th 2001 I stood at the rooftop of my office building in manhattan and watched as the twin towers fell. Then I bought God Hates us all. And Disciple helped me make sense of the day. Beyond the emotional attachment of the day the song is on point. The crowning Jewel in the slayer lexicon, worthy of reverence in the American songbook. Fast, brutal, to the point, no nonsense.

Its should be no. 1... I mean raining blood is good but this song has everything in it. Vocal and everything. This is my best song. I love it! The sound of drum is so clear.

This song is my favorite slayer song! Even god listens to thus masterpiece.. Powerful lyrics, great drums, the this song is like the god of metal songs!

"Dance with the dead in my dreams
Listen to their hallowed screams
The dead has taken my soul
Temptations, lost all control! "

This song is the creepiest Slayer song ever. Maybe one of the creepiest songs in Metal ever. Seriously, the haunting bass, the guitars that sound like doom is near, the strong lyrics tell a story about Ed Gein, a relentless body snatched and killer who skinned his victims and wore their skin around his house and make other objects with their flesh. The screams of terror at the end are terrifying

Best slayer track out of all the lot. The lyrics "Dance with the dead in my dreams" is the ultimate contribution for the mask that Ed Gein created, and that's how he killed his victims. He danced with them first, then ripped off their heads then their faces and used them as his mask. The outro to the song is quite epic too.

One of my favorite slayer tunes. A little slower than most, with a staedy groove. When the girl says LET ME OUT! I get chills down my spine. A little fun fact... The Texas chain saw massacre, psycho, and silence of the lambs movies were all concepts from the legend of Ed Gein

This is by far the best construction of riffs by slayer. Slashing legendary One after another riifs. Lyrics are awesome, Tom sung it beautifully. Verse riffs, built-up riffs are just awesome. This is like 'How to do Metal riffs' lesson from Jeff and Kerry king.

Ooh... Many of you might scream about Raining Blood to be here but NOPE not for me cause it's the most overrated song in thrash history... World Painted Blood tops it all!

Absolutely mind blowing slayer song.. Check this one out for sure and rest of the album it's all amazing

I love the guitar background during the solo. Absolutely amazingly heavy.

With a name like that, you know slayer is going to nail it.

Should be in the top ten at least, this song is so good that it was chosen to be the lead in to "Raining Blood"! Great riff, drums, vocals...GREAT SONG!

The intro is amazing and the riff is just as good as raining blood's riff not to mention the instuments in the background... Its definitely one of slayer's best songs

You can't listen to raining blood without listening to Post Mortem first. You just Can't.

My favourite slayer song and it should be continued by raining blood.

There are so many words to describe this song you could say amazing, ingenious but the best way to put it is once you hear this song it sticks with you. Forever Haunting in a dreamlike way. The lyrics are real and actually make you think. This is the most real personal song they ever have written.

Chorus-centred song with a weak chorus, melody-oriented without having a strong melody, while does not even have the speed or aggression of other Slayer songs. Highlights the problems of Seasons in the Abyss (the album, not the song)

Slayer should make more songs like this one, with a cool riff and ryth, not like the crazy ones they make, like the number one in this list.

Kerry King's backing vocals are heard here. That is another interesting thing about this song.

Great song, incredible when it's played live, it's a classic, a great headbanger song, come on! It's a f... Classic! Can't be out of the top ten.

What
Its music riffs are great..
Even decapitated have cover of this song

What the hell is Mandatory Suicide doing at 18?!

Ge this to the the top 10..This song has plethora of insane killer riffs..

The shimmering of the high hat at the start is what got me hooked and the rhythm of the vocals is just addictive, definitely in my top 5 slayer songs, I can't believe its not higher. I think this song is way better than most of the songs in the top ten in my opinion.

One of the cooler Slayer songs to date for me. The intro is quite different for the band but how impressive is the whole stuff
!

Heard it an was like"dude, this kicks ass". Kept that opinion ever since.

Good song... Deserves to be 11th at least

Probably Slayer's most underrated song! Epic beginning and deserves to be up there with the classics

Sounds a lot like some underground british 80s metal band, definitely awesome.

Awesome badass intro followed with delicate riffing and epic lyrics just an all round epic song from their first album also drums are killer in this one which has many tempo changes and beat changes

All the atmosphere of Seasons but with a more villainous riff and a more haunting melody.

One of my favorite songs of all time, I can't believe its this low on the list.

Totally underrated Song in this list...

Jesus. Is production really that important to you guys? If you can stand mediocre sound, Hell Awaits is really second only to Reign in Blood in Slayer's catalogue, and at times will make you question even that. And this song is really the highlight. It embodies everything great about the album, from the evil riffs, to the progressive movement of the song, and, as per usual, a great drum performance by Dave Lombardo, highlighted by the solo in this song. Its amazing how Slayer/Dave can fit drum solos into evil, Hellish songs and make it work. Kudos to Slayer, andve sure to check out the whole album. Belongs in the metal Pantheon in my book.

How is at dawn they sleep under jihad and south of heaven? Best slayer album by far is hell awaits.

How the hell is this so low on the list?

Best song from their best album.

Here is the proof that Slayer (don't know which guitarist) can come up with a great solo. Maybe not mindblowing but great. Why couldn't they follow this style on later albums?

This song doesn't get anywhere near the recognition it deserves, absolute classic!

Best slayer song ever!

Best slayer song!

This song has the best solo from any Slayer song in my opinion, it should be in the top 5. I could describe every part of what is awesome about this song, but then I'd just be describing everything!

Amazing song. I have no idea how it's not in the top 10 because it really deserves to be up there. It only takes one listen to tell that this song is a masterpiece.

Top five for sure...after many years of listening, some songs lose a bit of their lustre...not Spirit In Black...it keeps getting better. Vote this song up.

Best Slayer Song! Dark, powerful, heavy, ultra-fast, atmospheric and, wow, this incredible twist, when the hellhounds are let go!

Best of Hell Awaits. It's kinda slow, but has also a fast part in the end. Love the tempo changes, love the guitars - this is dark and progressive, thrash at its best.

If you haven't listened to this song yet, do it. You will hear the best scream in metal history.

Why isn't this up there? "I have seen the darkened depths of hell, sorcery beyond the witch's spell" one of their best

What? This is one of the best Slayer songs!

If you tried distilling pure, irrational anger and hatred, you'd end up with this song, it's the ultimate condensation of everything that's even vaguely unpleasant.

It's one of the biggest "f you" songs out there, it doesn't make any apologies for the steaming, hateful turd it is, and I kind of dig that

Strangely, for a flaming, blood stained middle finger, this song has a BEAUTIFUL solo.

This song is very, very aggressive. And it's absolutely amazing.

Why is this track over-hated? I think it's a great, groovy tune. The drumming is phenomenal! Also, this and Vices have similar drum patterns in the intro, with a thunderous thumping beat.

Great song! It's so heavy! The intro make me crazy! The lyrics are great too!

This song is the definition of SICK. That groovy, evil intro, all those heavy shifts in just a minute. And then comes hell itself: the main riff. 210 and 228 bpm hell unleashed with evil lyrics so fast it sounds like rapping but it completely blows off every other speedy rap song. It's only less than 3 minutes but with such high density and pummeling ferocity your ears feel like they've been violently attacked for half an hour. Pure thrash metal badassery. Can't get more evil and masterful than this.

In my opinion, the best Slayer song ever. Three badass solos in less than three minutes. I like it more than the other stuff on Reign of Blood.

It's just so weird!

Bizarre unique pseudo-chorus, solos everywhere, and breakneck speed. It's a truly underrated song.

The best slayer song after Raining Blood and Angel of Death.