Hubbry Logo
Raining BloodRaining BloodMain
Open search
Raining Blood
Community hub
Raining Blood
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Raining Blood
Raining Blood
Raining Blood
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
"Raining Blood"
Song by Slayer
from the album Reign in Blood
ReleasedOctober 7, 1986
Recorded1986
StudioHit City West, Los Angeles
GenreThrash metal, death metal
Length4:14
LabelDef Jam
ComposerJeff Hanneman
Lyricists
Producers
Audio sample
A sample from "Raining Blood", where the core riff comes into play after a 30-second introduction.[1][2]

"Raining Blood" is a song by the American thrash metal band Slayer. Written by Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King for the 1986 studio album Reign in Blood, the song's religious concept is about overthrowing Heaven.

The song is four minutes and fourteen seconds in duration. It starts with 33 seconds of rain sound effects and ends with a minute of more rain sound effects. Described as a "classic" by Allmusic,[3] it is noted by fans as one of Slayer's most popular songs. As an almost permanent addition to their live sets, both Hanneman and King acknowledged it as their favorite song to play live. Many of Slayer's live performances of the song have been captured on the band's live albums and also multi-band compilation albums including MTV2 Headbangers Ball.

Writing and concept

[edit]

"Raining Blood" was written by Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King.[4] D. X. Ferris said that "when Hanneman wrote the song, he envisioned a scene from a dark street or bloody back alley", and later went on to say that the song "described a banished soul awakened and hungry for vengeance." The second verse was written by King, who "pick[ed] up on Hanneman's title and in his new direction".[5] The song, along with the rest of Reign in Blood, was recorded in 1986 in Los Angeles, California, with producer Rick Rubin.[6][7]

Hanneman explained that "it's about a guy who's in Purgatory 'cause he was cast out of Heaven. He's waiting for revenge and wants to fuck that place up." King later said that "the rest of the song explains what happens when he starts fucking people up. The lyrics 'Return to power draws near' is because he's waiting to get strong enough again to overthrow Heaven. And then 'Fall into me, the sky's crimson tears' is everybody's blood flowing into him. So basically, 'Raining Blood' is all the angels' blood falling on him."[8]

Composition

[edit]

"Raining Blood" is four minutes and fourteen seconds long, and it is Reign in Blood's closing track.[9][3] The song is one of three songs from the album that exceeds three minutes in length.[3] Steve Huey from Allmusic proposed that "Reign in Blood opens and closes with slightly longer tracks (the classics 'Angel of Death' and 'Raining Blood') whose slower riffs offer most of the album's few hints of melody."[3] The song's music was written solely by guitarist Hanneman[4] (who was also a primary writer of the song's lyrics), who presented both hostility and anger in his writing.[3] Huey also noted that "the riffs are built on atonal chromaticism that sounds as sickening as the graphic violence depicted in many of the lyrics", and said that it was "monstrously" and "terrifyingly evocative".[3]

Clay Jarvis from Stylus Magazine wrote that the song possessed "a red-herring, scorched-earth intro, eerie thunderstorm-and-tom-tom-triplet interlude and one of the most recognizable riffs in metal history. It is a dynamic, explosive and fitting end to a remarkable, violent experience."[10] D. X. Ferris, author of the 33⅓ book Reign In Blood,[11] wrote that the song "lunges to life with its core riff, the ten most recognizable notes in metal, a diminished-scale run down the fretboard that's the most badass guitar riff since Black Sabbath's 'Sweet Leaf'."[1] Guitarist Kerry King said that "The intro is big with the two harmony and then the first beat that Dave [Lombardo] does, that double-kick thing, and it's like this backwards gallop that gets the crowd going wherever you are."[2]

Revolver stated the song contains the earliest example of what is now considered a breakdown.[12] Halfway through this section of the song, Kerry King begins playing a melodic lead line overtop the rhythm section. Matt Mills of Metal Hammer stated that the breakdown "bypasses rational thought and catches you straight in the 'fat riff and simple drumbeat'-loving part of your brain."[13]

The piece ends with a full minute of "rain sound effects," closing Reign in Blood.[14]

Personnel

[edit]

Live performances

[edit]

"Raining Blood", along with Reign in Blood's opening track "Angel of Death", is an almost permanent addition to Slayer's live set-list, and was Hanneman and King's favorite track to play live.[15] At the end of the Still Reigning DVD, there is a finale with the band covered in fake blood during the performance of "Raining Blood".[16] When asked which song holds best, both Slayer guitarists replied "Raining Blood". Hanneman admitted that he "still love[s] playing that song live. You'd think we'd be tired of it – I mean, I'd love to know how many times we've played it live. That would be really interesting." King said "we could be playing in front of Alanis Morissette, and the crowd loves the part."[2]

King told D. X. Ferris that "whenever 'Raining Blood' comes in the set, it just electrifies the whole crowd. People just shit when you hit the first few notes. Like 'Jesus Christ it's a guitar, settle down.'"[8] In the past, Slayer used fake blood to cover their bodies when performing the song live. However, when asked about using fake blood in future performances, King remarked "It's time to move on, but never say never. I know Japan never saw it, South America and Australia never saw it. So you never know."[17]

Appearances

[edit]

The song was featured in the 127th South Park episode, "Die Hippie, Die", which aired on March 16, 2005.[18] Slayer guitarist Kerry King found the episode humorous and expressed his interest in the show, mentioning it in an interview, saying "It was good to see the song being put to good use. If we can horrify some hippies, we've done our job."[17]

The song was also included in the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in-game radio station "V-Rock".[19] "Raining Blood" is a playable song in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, where it is renowned for being one of the hardest songs in the Career Mode setlist: a 2008 job advertisement for future Guitar Hero playtesters listed the song as one of four that potential applicants had to be capable of playing on the highest difficulty level.[20] The song is also featured in Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, with the first and only five note chord in the series.[21] It was released as a downloadable song for Rock Band 3 on April 10, 2012, along with "South of Heaven" and "Seasons in the Abyss". It was also released as a downloadable song for Rocksmith 2014 on May 19, 2015, as part of the Slayer Song Pack.[22][23]

At the mixed martial arts event UFC 97 on April 18, 2009, fighter Chuck Liddell made his penultimate appearance in the UFC and used "Raining Blood" as his entrance music.[24]

Cover versions

[edit]

The song has been covered by Malevolent Creation, Havok, Natalie Prass, Body Count, Vader, Diecast, Quiet Company, Reggie and the Full Effect,[25] and Erik Hinds, who covered the entire Reign in Blood album on a H'arpeggione.[26] The guitar riffs from "Raining Blood" and "Mandatory Suicide" were sampled by rapper Lil Jon in the song "Stop Fuckin Wit' Me" from the 2004 album Crunk Juice.[27] It was Rick Rubin's only collaboration with Lil Jon on the record.[28] Jon wanted to create a "black version" of Suicidal Tendencies' song "Institutionalized".[29] The New Zealand drum and bass group Concord Dawn produced a drum and bass cover version on their album Uprising, on which they partially sample the famous opening riff of the song, the adult comedy series Fur TV made a parody under the name "Raining Brown".

Tori Amos

[edit]

In 2001, the song was covered by Tori Amos on her studio album Strange Little Girls. The cover of "Raining Blood" was suggested by bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen, who told Amos that she "had tried pretty much every other genre of music, from rap to new wave to punk to country to pop, why not some metal?"[30] Meldal-Johnsen chose the album Reign in Blood, and after listening to it, Amos agreed to make a cover version of "Raining Blood".[30] In an interview, she stated that upon first hearing the song, the imagery she thought of was "this beautiful vulva [laughs] ... raining blood over this male abusive force".[31]

King states the cover was odd; "It took me a minute and a half to find a spot in the song where I knew where she was. It's so weird. If she had never told us, we would have never known. You could have played it for us and we'd have been like, 'What's that?' Like a minute and a half through I heard a line and was like, 'I know where she's at!'"[32] In response, Slayer sent some T-shirts to Amos, which she said was appreciated.[33]

Reception

[edit]

Stylus Magazine's Clay Jarvis said that the song is fit to be the closing song for Reign in Blood, and also noted that the song, along with other songs from Reign in Blood, has "manic, hacksaw guitars, monsoons of double-bass drum rolling and from-the-throat barking—all note-perfect and precise—that still smokes the asses of any band playing fast and/or heavy today".[10] J. Bennett affirmed that the song "still make[s] other metal bands sound like frail pussies".[34] Steve Huey said that it was a classic, and that its "slower riffs offer most of the album's few hints of melody".[3] Erik Hinds from About.com said that the piece has unexpectedly become a ballad.[35] Derrick Harris, an editor of the official newspaper of University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, said that it had a "blistering solo".[36] It peaked at number 64 in the United Kingdom, where it would stay on the chart for three weeks.[37]

"Raining Blood" has retrospectively been considered one the band's best songs and one of the best songs in metal. In 2012, Loudwire ranked the song number one on their list of the 10 greatest Slayer songs,[38] and in 2020, Kerrang ranked the song number two on their list of the 20 greatest Slayer songs.[39] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked the song number eight on their list of the 100 greatest heavy metal songs.[40]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1987) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[37] 64

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Raining Blood

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Raining Blood" is a song by the American band , written by guitarists and , and released as the tenth and final track on their third studio album, , on October 7, 1986. Produced by , the track is celebrated for its aggressive sound, featuring a dramatic intro, intricate two-guitar harmonies, blistering solos, and relentless double-kick drumming by . With a total runtime of 4:14, including intro and outro rain sound effects, it encapsulates the band's signature style of high-speed infused with horror and apocalyptic themes. The song's , primarily penned by Hanneman with contributions from , evoke vivid of vampiric torment and biblical catastrophe, opening with lines like "Trapped in / A lifeless object, alive" and culminating in the chilling of falling from the lacerated . Hanneman drew inspiration for the main riff from his influences during the writing process, recording an initial demo on an 8-track that captured its eerie atmosphere, which Rubin later refined for maximum intensity by stripping away reverb. Vocalist delivers the words with raw clarity, enhancing the track's sense of dread and urgency. Widely regarded as a cornerstone of , "Raining Blood" has been ranked among the greatest heavy metal songs ever, placing eighth on 's list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time due to its embodiment of the genre's mood, power, and transcendence. It remains a live staple for , eliciting massive crowd responses and from band members, as Hanneman noted in 2009: "Every night when we play it, once the kids go off like they do, it gives you ." The song's influence extends beyond metal, inspiring covers by artists like and even appearances in sports arenas, underscoring its enduring cultural impact.

Background and Creation

Writing and Concept

"Raining Blood" was primarily written by Slayer guitarist , who composed the core music and initial , while contributed key , helped refine the structure, and completed the during the recording sessions. Hanneman began developing the song's iconic main at home using a mini-recorder and an 8-track setup with a , creating an early demo that captured its eerie, building intensity. King later recalled being initially underwhelmed by the demo but ultimately embracing it as one of the band's strongest tracks after hearing the full arrangement. The song's concept centers on a violent overthrow of , depicted through vivid imagery of angels being trampled and their blood raining down in an apocalyptic deluge, drawing from Hanneman's interest in dark, horror-infused themes of destruction and warfare. While Hanneman handled much of the thematic groundwork, King's lyrical additions lobby emphasized the song's brutal, unrelenting tone, aligning with the band's broader exploration of evil and brutality. The track emerged during the 1986 pre-production phase for the album, where Hanneman presented cassette demos of his ideas to for refinement. Rehearsals focused on amplifying thrash metal's speed and aggression, with discussions pushing drummer to accelerate tempos and the guitarists to incorporate punk-influenced brevity for maximum impact. This collaborative process, influenced by ' underground punk scene, stripped the song to its essential ferocity, setting it apart as a pinnacle of the genre's intensity.

Recording and Production

The recording of "Raining Blood" took place as part of the sessions for Slayer's album at Hit City West Studios in , , in June 1986, under the production of and engineering by Andy Wallace. Guitarists and recorded their parts using guitars—Hanneman on a Bich model and King on a —equipped with Super Distortion pickups, run through 2203 heads and 4x12 cabinets to capture the band's signature aggressive tone. Bassist and vocalist tracked his bass lines on a Wave bass with P-style pickups, amplified via an head and 8x10 cabinet, often recording bass and vocals simultaneously for efficiency and cohesion. Drummer employed a double-bass setup on what was likely a Tama Starclassic kit, featuring two 24-inch kick drums, multiple toms, a 14-inch brass snare, and an extensive array of cymbals including up to nine rides and crashes, enabling the song's relentless, high-speed percussion. Rick Rubin significantly shaped the track's intensity by adopting a subtractive production philosophy, stripping away reverb and excess elements to emphasize raw aggression and precision, while pushing toward tighter performances at accelerated tempos without relying on multiple overdubs. This approach honed Lombardo's double-bass patterns and the guitar riffs to a blistering pace, resulting in the song's core sections clocking around 210 beats per minute. Mixing occurred at the same Hit City West facility, where Wallace focused on balancing the track's , particularly highlighting the atmospheric rain sound effects that bookend the song—simulated through layered audio samples and design techniques to evoke a stormy ambiance without detracting from the music's ferocity.

Musical Composition

Structure and Instrumentation

"Raining Blood" opens with an atmospheric intro consisting of simulated sounds and thunder effects, establishing a foreboding mood before the onslaught begins. The song adheres to a verse-chorus-verse structure, punctuated by a prominent section around the midpoint, and concludes with an extended outro that gradually fades back into sounds for symmetry. Clocking in at a total length of 4:14, the track exemplifies Slayer's tight, economical songwriting within the thrash genre. Composed in the key of with guitars tuned down a half-step from standard for added heaviness and driven at a blistering of 216 beats per minute, "Raining Blood" incorporates classic techniques, including palm-muted guitar riffs and blast beats on drums, which propel its relentless pace. The instrumentation centers on the dual-lead guitars of and , who layer harmonious riffs and interlocking patterns to create a dense, aggressive soundscape—evident in the main riff's chromatic slides and progressions. Dave Lombardo's drumming provides the rhythmic foundation with rapid snare and cymbal work, including precise blast beats during transitional sections that heighten the track's intensity. Tom Araya's vocal delivery alternates between deep growls in the verses and high-pitched screams in the choruses, enhancing the song's visceral impact. Hanneman's stands out for its chaotic execution, employing whammy bar dives for dramatic pitch drops and pinch harmonics to generate squealing, dissonant tones that amplify the disorienting fury.

Lyrics and Themes

The lyrics of "Raining Blood" open with vivid imagery of existential torment and impending vengeance: "Trapped in / A lifeless object, alive / Awaiting / will be their acquittance." This sets a of a damned cast from , building to the apocalyptic chorus: "Raining blood / From a lacerated sky / Bleeding its horror / Creating my structure / Now I shall !" The song's themes revolve around and hellish torment, portraying a figure empowered in to overthrow heavenly order, with the raining blood symbolizing the slaughter of angels as retribution against . Drawing from biblical and apocalyptic motifs, the evoke anti-religious imagery by subverting sacred concepts of into scenes of cosmic and damnation. This imagery reflects a vengeful soul's . Tom Araya's vocal delivery intensifies these themes through raw phonetic aggression, employing guttural snarls and piercing screams that convey phonetic fury, particularly in the elongated howls of "blood" during the chorus, mirroring the song's lacerating horror. The ' concept was inspired by Jeff Hanneman's vision of a in seeking revenge; credited to both Hanneman and , with King finalizing portions in the studio.

Release and Commercial Performance

Album Context and Initial Release

"Raining Blood" appears as the tenth and final track on Slayer's third studio album, Reign in Blood, where it serves as a climactic closer that encapsulates the record's intense exploration of themes including war, blasphemy, death, and manifestations of evil, with earlier songs like "Angel of Death" directly addressing the horrors of the Holocaust. The song's apocalyptic imagery of blood descending from the heavens reinforces the album's overarching narrative of unrelenting violence and demonic forces, providing a fitting and explosive conclusion to the 29-minute runtime. Reign in Blood was released on October 7, 1986, through , marking Slayer's major-label debut and initially distributed in vinyl LP and cassette formats to capitalize on the era's dominant preferences. versions followed in later reissues, expanding accessibility as digital formats gained traction in the late 1980s and beyond. The album's packaging featured artwork by Larry W. Carroll, depicting a surreal hellscape with a horned, winged figure amid crimson skies and elements, which visually echoes the song's motifs of biblical catastrophe and infernal descent. To promote the album, Slayer embarked on the Reign in Blood Tour in late October 1986, commencing the North American leg on October 31 and featuring the band delivering high-energy performances where "Raining Blood" emerged as a standout setlist highlight, often closing shows with its blistering intensity.

Chart Performance and Certifications

Upon its release in 1986, Reign in Blood became Slayer's first album to chart on the US Billboard 200, debuting at No. 127 and ultimately peaking at No. 94 after six weeks. Although "Raining Blood" was not released as a commercial single and did not chart independently, its prominence as the album's closing track contributed to the overall commercial momentum, with the record surpassing 500,000 units sold in the US by early 1992. The album received RIAA gold certification on November 20, 1992, recognizing shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States. No higher certifications followed for the album in the US, though it was certified silver by the BPI in the UK for 60,000 units. "Raining Blood" has achieved significant digital success, amassing over 249 million streams on as of November 2025. Internationally, peaked at No. 47 on the , spending three weeks in the top 100. The album experienced renewed commercial interest in subsequent decades, aided by Slayer's participation in the 2010–2011 Big Four tour with Metallica, , and , which revitalized thrash metal's popularity and boosted catalog sales. Further resurgence occurred post-2015 amid the band's final tours, enhancing streaming and digital sales metrics for tracks like "Raining Blood."

Live Performances

Early Tours and Setlist Evolution

"Raining Blood" debuted live on , 1986, at in , Washington, marking the opening night of Slayer's Tour shortly after the album's release. The song served as the set opener, performed in full by the band with its signature atmospheric intro transitioning into high-speed thrash, setting a ferocious tone for the performance. Throughout the late and into the , "Raining Blood" became a fixture in Slayer's live repertoire, frequently opening or closing sets to maximize its dramatic impact. By the , the band adjusted pacing in various tours, occasionally streamlining the song's extended intro to fit tighter set times while preserving its core intensity. This allowed it to remain a high-energy highlight amid growing tour demands. During the 2006 Tour, the performance retained the studio version's structure of eerie violin intro, verse-chorus thrash, and blistering solo, but live renditions emphasized Lombardo's precise double-bass drumming to maintain relentless momentum. From 1986 through the 2019 farewell tour, "Raining Blood" appeared in approximately 90% of Slayer's shows, totaling 1,614 performances, and was commonly used to close main sets for its climactic finale. Its consistent inclusion underscored the song's role as a live staple, driving audience energy with unyielding speed and aggression.

Recent Performances and Legacy Shows

Following their farewell tour conclusion in 2019, Slayer staged a series of revival performances in 2025, marking a partial reunion of the classic lineup featuring on bass and vocals, and Gary Holt on guitars, and on drums. These one-off and festival appearances highlighted the band's enduring appeal, with "Raining Blood" serving as a centerpiece in setlists that revisited their roots. The year began with the Back to the Beginning tour in the UK, a multi-act event celebrating metal origins. headlined shows at in Birmingham on and in on July 6, delivering blistering renditions of "Raining Blood" that ignited massive circle pits among the crowds. These performances featured the song's signature rapid-fire riffs and Araya's commanding vocals, adapted to Bostaph's precise, high-speed drumming in place of original member , who departed in 2013. Fan footage captured the chaotic energy, with mosh pits forming immediately upon the track's intro. In September, Slayer returned to North America for festival slots that amplified their legacy. At Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 18, the band unleashed "Raining Blood" to a fervent audience, contributing to the event's record-breaking total attendance of over 240,000 across four days. The performance, part of a set drawing from Reign in Blood, emphasized unrelenting tempo shifts and crowd interaction, fostering intense mosh pits that defined the festival's thrash atmosphere. Professionally shot and fan-uploaded videos proliferated on YouTube, garnering millions of views and underscoring the song's timeless draw. The East Coast exclusive followed at in , on September 20, where played to a near-capacity crowd in the 30,000-seat venue. "Raining Blood" anchored the set, with Bostaph's fills driving the track's apocalyptic solo section and sparking widespread . This show, billed as the band's only U.S. East Coast appearance of 2025, received acclaim for its raw intensity, with attendee videos highlighting the seamless blend of original ferocity and modern production. These 2025 outings not only revived 's stage presence but also solidified their status as thrash icons, drawing younger fans alongside veterans and proving the partial reunion's vitality post-farewell; no further performances occurred as of November 2025.

Cover Versions and Tributes

Notable Covers by Other Artists

"Raining Blood" has inspired 35 recorded covers as of 2025, spanning genres from to classical and metal substyles, as documented in the SecondHandSongs database. These reinterpretations often alter the original's blistering thrash tempo—around 210 BPM—and incorporate elements like arrangements, sections, or added vocal styles to create distinct atmospheres while preserving the song's intense thematic core of apocalyptic violence. One of the most acclaimed covers is Tori Amos's version from her 2001 Strange Little Girls, where she reimagines the track as a haunting piano with ethereal, whispered vocals and a drastically slowed of 73 BPM, emphasizing vulnerability over aggression. This minimalist chamber-pop rendition, produced by Amos and Marcel van Limbeek, contrasts sharply with Slayer's raw energy, drawing praise for its unsettling intimacy. In the metal realm, Havok's 2011 medley combining "Raining Blood" with "Postmortem"—a bonus track on their debut album Time Is Up—delivers an aggressive thrash remake faithful to the original's speed and precision, featuring technical guitar work by Shaun Glass and Nick Schendzielos. Similarly, Vader's live rendition from their 2006 performances accelerates the breakdown section with mechanized rhythms and brutal vocals, showcasing the Polish band's thrash expertise in a high-octane setting. Body Count's 2017 take on Bloodlust merges "Raining Blood" into a medley with "Postmortem," infusing rap-metal flair through Ice-T's commanding delivery and chest-thumping production by Will Putney, which adds gritty urban edge to the thrash foundation. Variations across covers frequently include tempo shifts for emphasis—such as slower builds leading to explosive climaxes—and supplementary features like clean singing in indie adaptations or violin screeches in the Vitamin String Quartet's 2006 classical arrangement on The String Quartet Tribute to Slayer: The Death Angel Remains.

Adaptations in Media and Sampling

"Raining Blood" has appeared in several television shows and films, often to underscore intense or chaotic moments. In the 2005 episode "Die, Hippie, Die," blasts the track over the sound system at a to drive away the crowd, exploiting their aversion to heavy metal. The song features in the 2021 sci-fi , directed by Michael Pearce, during a high-tension escape sequence involving the protagonists. It also plays in the pilot episode of the series Californication (season 2, episode 1, 2007), accompanying a scene of personal turmoil for the lead character. The track has been integrated into video games, enhancing with its aggressive energy. It serves as a playable song in (2007), where players tackle its challenging guitar solo on expert difficulty. "Raining Blood" is featured on the V-Rock radio station in (2002), providing during open-world driving sequences. Additionally, it was released as for the Rock Band series, including compatibility with (2012), allowing full band performances. Beyond traditional media, "Raining Blood" has been used in to evoke a sense of the dramatic and . A 2012 Halloween-themed commercial for Google's laptop incorporated the song to heighten the spooky atmosphere of a promotional video. The song's iconic riffs and structure have influenced sampling in other genres, particularly hip-hop and electronic music. Lil and the East Side Boyz sampled its guitar elements in "Stop Fuckin' Wit Me" from their 2004 album , blending thrash intensity with beats. Rapper ILL Bill drew from the track in "Awaiting the Hour" on his 2007 album (La Coka Nostra Presents Ill Bill), using it to amplify themes of aggression and impending doom. producer Concord Dawn directly interpolated the song in their 2003 track "Raining Blood," reimagining it through fast-paced breaks and atmospheric effects.

Critical Reception and Cultural Impact

Initial Reviews and Awards

Upon its release in October 1986, garnered strong praise from heavy metal publications for its blistering speed and technical precision. The album received widespread acclaim for its unrelenting intensity and innovative thrash assault. The album's provocative , especially those addressing war atrocities and imagery, elicited mixed responses amid the 1980s Satanic panic, where heavy metal was often accused of promoting violence and immorality. While some critics highlighted the controversial content in tracks like "Angel of Death"—detailing Nazi experiments—as overly graphic and inflammatory, others commended the band's virtuoso guitar work and rhythmic ferocity despite the thematic backlash. In terms of formal recognition during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Reign in Blood solidified Slayer's influence, with the track "Raining Blood" later ranked number 8 on VH1's 2006 list of the 40 Greatest Metal Songs, underscoring its immediate impact on the genre.

Legacy and Influence

"Raining Blood" has profoundly shaped the evolution of metal subgenres, particularly through its intricate riff structures that inspired later acts in thrash and beyond. Nu-metal pioneers like Slipknot have acknowledged Slayer's influence, with drummer Joey Jordison citing the relentless energy and complexity of tracks from Reign in Blood—including "Raining Blood"—as pivotal to their sound development. Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has similarly hailed Slayer as a cornerstone of thrash metal, emphasizing their innovative rhythm guitar techniques as a benchmark for the genre's aggression and precision. The song's cultural footprint extends to its recognition as an enduring metal anthem, ranking eighth on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time in 2023, underscoring its transcendence beyond thrash into broader heavy music canon. In the 2020s, the track experienced a notable resurgence amid Slayer's partial reunion for major festivals, including headlining sets at and in 2024 where "Raining Blood" served as a climactic closer, influencing contemporary stage designs with enhanced evoking biblical downpours. This revival highlights the song's ongoing relevance, bridging generational fans through high-profile live revivals that echo its original intensity. Scholars have examined "Raining Blood" within broader analyses of heavy metal's theological dimensions, particularly its apocalyptic motifs drawn from biblical end-times imagery like lacerated skies and divine wrath. A 2016 study on frames such themes as dystopian critiques, positioning Slayer's work as a key example of environmental and societal lament in the genre. Later research, including a 2023 paper, interprets heavy metal's apocalyptic narratives as modern "premediations" of catastrophe, blending horror with cultural warning. These academic explorations affirm the song's role in heavy metal , where interrogate chaos and redemption without endorsing dogma.

References

  1. https://www.discogs.com/master/7728-Slayer-Reign-In-Blood
  2. https://www.revolvermag.com/music/raining-blood-jeff-hanneman-origin-legacy-slayers-defining-song/
  3. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Slayer/Reign_in_Blood/212
  4. https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-heavy-metal-songs-all-time-45771/raining-blood-slayer-45864/
  5. https://www.loudersound.com/features/slayer-reign-in-blood-album-thrash-history
  6. https://www.loudersound.com/features/slayer-the-making-of-reign-in-blood
  7. https://mixdownmag.com.au/features/gear-rundown-slayers-reign-in-blood/
  8. https://metalinjection.net/news/rick-rubin-explains-the-unique-production-behind-slayers-reign-in-blood-i-was-more-subtractive-than-additive-getting-back-to-the-essence
  9. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i_played_a_metallica_record_as_an_example_of_what_i_thought_was_wrong_rick_rubin_reveals_key_to_producing_slayers_reign_in_blood.html
  10. https://getsongbpm.com/song/raining-blood/nxo9E
  11. https://www.revolvermag.com/music/slayers-reign-blood-story-behind-thrashs-controversial-masterpiece/
  12. https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/slayer/raining-blood-tabs-29266
  13. https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Slayer/Reign_in_Blood_-_Undisputed_Attitude/466989/
  14. https://www.licklibrary.com/learn/lessons/slayer/raining-blood
  15. https://genius.com/Slayer-raining-blood-lyrics
  16. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/slayer/raining-blood
  17. https://singingcarrots.com/learn-to-sing-like/Slayer
  18. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/the_story_behind_raining_blood_by_slayer-68593
  19. https://www.allmusic.com/album/reign-in-blood-mw0000191741
  20. https://www.metalsucks.net/2016/10/07/reign-blood-turns-30-ten-myths-misconceptions-slayers-thrash-classic-dismantled/
  21. https://www.loudersound.com/features/slayer-reign-in-blood-album-artwork-interview
  22. https://www.slayer.net/products/reign-in-pain-tour
  23. https://loudwire.com/slayer-reign-in-blood-album-anniversary/
  24. https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/slayer-to-celebrate-40th-anniversary-of-reign-in-blood-at-inaugural-sick-new-world-texas-in-october-2026
  25. https://kworb.net/spotify/artist/1IQ2e1buppatiN1bxUVkrk_songs.html
  26. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24318/slayer/
  27. https://chartmasters.org/best-selling-metal-bands-all-time/
  28. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/slayer/1986/the-moore-theatre-seattle-wa-7bd632a8.html
  29. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/slayer-63d68e3b.html?songid=23d658fb
  30. https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-slayer-plays-second-full-show-of-2025-at-finsbury-park-in-london
  31. https://metalinjection.net/video/watch-slayers-first-show-of-2025
  32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xzysdo2HTw
  33. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV3s1J4_sUE
  34. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/slayer/2025/villa-park-birmingham-england-2b5ac89a.html
  35. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/slayer/2025/finsbury-park-london-england-135b7905.html
  36. https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-slayer-performs-at-2025-louder-than-life-festival
  37. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/louder-life-2025-record-crowds-035900008.html
  38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8RdWJww0ow
  39. https://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/08/19/louder-than-life-lineup-full-2025-set-times-locations/85662089007/
  40. https://www.revolvermag.com/music/slayers-only-east-coast-show-of-2025-see-setlist-and-video/
  41. https://bravewords.com/news/slayer-performs-at-louder-than-life-2025-setlist-video-photos/
  42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF1VHausGpI
  43. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/slayer/2025/hersheypark-stadium-hershey-pa-2359e4f7.html
  44. https://secondhandsongs.com/work/1163/all
  45. https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/1164/all
  46. https://chordify.net/chords/tori-amos-songs/raining-blood-chords
  47. https://loudwire.com/best-covers-slayer-raining-blood/
  48. https://open.spotify.com/track/3MeOzVn578pLYEcXHn2z88
  49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYVn8Los9P0
  50. https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/546188
  51. https://www.allmusic.com/album/reign-in-blood-mw0000195528
  52. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/how-slayers-controversial-angel-of-death-changed-thrash-band-forever-192311/
  53. https://community.klipsch.com/topic/70352-vh1s-40-most-metal-songs-ever/
  54. https://www.kerrang.com/10-bands-who-wouldnt-be-here-without-slayer
  55. https://www.musicradar.com/news/kirk-hammett-pays-tribute-to-slayer-and-says-kerry-king-doesnt-get-enough-credit-as-a-rhythm-guitar-player
  56. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-heavy-metal-songs-1234688425/
  57. https://loudwire.com/slayer-2024-reunion-setlist-video-riot-fest/
  58. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40889-016-0013-z
  59. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0752/12/3/120
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.