Heavy music is full of legendary bands boasting deep catalogs stacked with iconic songs — sometimes it can be hard to know where to start, or what to consider their best. With that in mind, we present the “Mandatory Metal” lists, which collect what we consider to be the definitive tracks from various members of the metallurgic pantheon. Up today, Slayer, those blasphemous, serial killer–serenading thrash-metal OGs who rained blood for nearly four decades. The band called it a day late last year and leave behind a catalog stacked with must-hear blasterpieces, but in our opinion, these classic cuts are their very most essential. If you disagree, sound off on The Pit Facebook page.
“ANGEL OF DEATH”
ALBUM: REIGN IN BLOOD
The quintessential Slayer recording and a damn fine WWII history lesson.
Sample lyrics: “Human mice, for the Angel of Death/Four hundred thousand more to die.”
“DISCIPLE”
ALBUM: GOD HATES US ALL
A hateful diatribe against, well, everything.
Sample lyrics: “I reject this fuckin’ race/I despite this fuckin’ place.”
“WAR ENSEMBLE”
ALBUM: SEASONS IN THE ABYSS
The ultimate ode to war, Slayer’s favorite subject beside Satan.
Sample lyrics: “The final swing is not a drill/It’s how many people I can kill.”
“CHEMICAL WARFARE”
ALBUM: HAUNTING THE CHAPEL EP
A flesh-searing speed-metal epic about battlefield horrors.
Sample lyrics: “Gods on the throne must be watching from hell/Awaiting the mass genocide.”
“SPILL THE BLOOD”
ALBUM: SOUTH OF HEAVEN
Proved Slayer didn’t have to be fast to be the best.
Sample lyrics: “Spill your blood, let it run onto me/Take my hand and let go of your life.”
