Top 10 Best Songs by Slayer

An early classic that bridges their punk influences and the thrash they would perfect. The tempo is murderous and the riffs are raw and unpolished. The song radiates youthful, reckless energy. The production is not as tight as later albums, which contributes to the "dirty" and dangerous atmosphere of the track.

The title track of their second album starts with an iconic, reversed voice sample whispering "Join Us." The buildup is slow and ominous, before the song descends into hellish tempo. This is atmosphere metal before it existed. It feels like you're slowly being dragged into a dungeon, with guitars sounding like chains scraping across stone.

From the band's later period, but with the intensity of their golden age. Tom Araya screams with a hatred that's almost tangible: "God hates us all." The groove is heavier and more modern, less focused on pure speed and more on impact. It shows the band hadn't been softened by age.

A slower, dragging song that marches like an army heading to slaughter. The lyrics are a cynical look at warfare and the futility of sacrifice. The spoken-word passage at the end is chilling. The guitar parts are less chaotic than usual, but sound all the more threatening and cold for it.

Based on the crimes of Ed Gein. The song starts with a deceptively quiet riff that quickly turns into pure horror. The mood is macabre and crawls under your skin. The child voice at the end ("Let me out!") gives goosebumps. Musically it's one of their more "melodic" songs, which makes the contrast with the sick subject matter all the greater.

A lesson in endurance. From the first second this is an assault on the senses. The drumming of Lombardo is of another planet; tight, fast and full of complex fills. The song breathes the chaos of the battlefield. The guitars shoot like machine gun fire around your ears, while Araya barks out commands. Pure adrenaline.

Here Slayer shows they can also build atmosphere without constantly playing at top speed. The Middle Eastern influences in the riffs give the song a mystical and epic character. It's dark and bewitching. The production is clear and spacious, allowing the heavy groove of the drums and the wailing guitar harmonies to shine perfectly.

The ominous guitar intro is instantly recognizable. Slayer chose to slow the tempo down to increase the weight. The result is a doom-like masterpiece. Araya sings here more than he screams, creating a ghostly effect. The song feels like a slow descent into darkness, inescapable and crushing.

With the sound of thunder and rain begins one of the most famous riffs in metal history. The three drum hits on the toms are iconic. This song is the essence of Slayer in less than five minutes. The structure is bizarre but brilliant, ending in a chaos of feedback and sound effects. It's short, powerful and leaves nothing intact from the listener.

The ultimate thrash metal track. Tom Araya's opening scream is legendary, and the lyrics about Josef Mengele caused years of controversy. Musically it's a technical tour de force. The famous "double bass" drum break halfway through is the benchmark for every metal drummer. The guitars are razor-sharp and surgically precise. It's a gruesome story wrapped in musical perfection.