Angel of Death

Slayer

About Angel of Death

"Angel of Death" is the opening track on the American thrash metal band Slayer's 1986 album Reign in Blood. The lyrics and music were written by guitarist Jeff Hanneman. They detail the Nazi physician Josef Mengele's human experiments at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. Although the lyrics describe Mengele's abuses rather than endorsing them, "Angel of Death" led to accusations of Nazi sympathizing and racism against the band, which they vigorously denied but which followed them throughout their early career. Despite the controversy and the resulting delay in the release of Reign in Blood, the song remains a live favorite, and has appeared on all of Slayer's live albums. The song has been described as highly influential in the development of thrash metal or speed metal, and is highly regarded by some critics; AllMusic's Steve Huey called it a classic and the album "the pinnacle of speed metal". The half-time riff was sampled by Public Enemy in their 1988 song "She Watch Channel Zero?!." 


Year:
1986
4:51
839 
#9

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Auschwitz, the meaning of pain
The why that I want you to die
Slow death, immense decay
Showers that cleanse you of your life

Forced in
Like cattle
You run
Stripped of
Your life's worth
Human mice, for the Angel of Death
Four hundred thousand more to die
Angel of Death
Monarch to the kingdom of the dead

Sadistic, surgeon of demise
Sadist of the noblest blood

Destroying, without mercy
To benefit the Aryan race

Surgery, with no anesthesia
Fell the knife pierce you intensely
Inferior, no use to mankind
Strapped down screaming out to die
Angel of Death
Monarch to the kingdom of the dead
Infamous butcher,
Angel of Death

Pumped with fluid, inside your brain
Pressure in your skull begins pushing through your eyes
Burning flesh, drips away
Test of heat burns your skin, your mind starts to boil
Frigid cold, cracks your limbs
How long can you last
In this frozen water burial?
Sewn together, joining heads
Just a matter of time
'Til you rip yourselves apart
Millions laid out in their
Crowded tombs
Sickening ways to achieve
The holocaust
Seas of blood, bury life
Smell your death as it burns
Deep inside of you
Abacinate, eyes that bleed
Praying for the end of
Your wide awake nightmare
Wings of pain, reach out for you
His face of death staring down,
Your blood running cold
Injecting cells, dying eyes
Feeding on the screams of
The mutants he's creating
Pathetic harmless victims
Left to die
Rancid Angel of Death
Flying free

[  Angel of Death
Monarch to the kingdom of the dead
Infamous butcher,
Angel of Death

Angel of Death]

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Slayer

Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. more »

4 fans

Written by: Jeffery John Hanneman

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release & Band Members
"Angel of Death" is a song by American thrash metal band Slayer from their 1986 album "Reign in Blood". The band members at that time were Tom Araya (vocals and bass), Kerry King (guitar), Jeff Hanneman (guitar), and Dave Lombardo (drums).
Subject Matter
This song is one of the band's most famous and controversial songs due to its subject matter - it details the horrific human experiments conducted by Josef Mengele, a Nazi doctor at Auschwitz concentration camp during the Holocaust.
Misunderstood Intentions
Despite its controversial topic, the band has consistently stated that the song is a narration of history and is not intended to glorify Nazi atrocities. It is more of a condemnation of the horrors committed during the Holocaust.
Song Structure
The song is known for its intricate song structure, featuring two separate guitar solos, extreme speeds, context-switching, and aggressive lyrics. This serves to create a dark and intense mood that conveys the horror of its historical subject matter.
Impact on Slayer's Image
Prolific controversy regarding the song contributed to Slayer's "evil" image and garnered them significant media attention. The song led to accusations of Nazism and fascism, which the band denied vehemently.
Impact on Album Release
"Angel of Death" contributed to delays in the release of the "Reign in Blood" album, as its original distributor, Columbia Records, refused to release the album, citing the song's lyrical content.
Genre Impact
Despite, or perhaps because of its controversy and intensity, "Angel of Death" has become iconic in the thrash metal genre, often considered as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time.
Live Performances
The song is a regular feature in Slayer's live performances. The band has often begun their concerts with "Angel of Death," and it was the last song they performed at their final concert in 2019.
Notable Cover
The song was notably covered by "Public Enemy" member Chuck D under the moniker Confrontation Camp in 2000.
In Popular Culture
In addition to its place within the metal genre, "Angel of Death" has crossed over into popular culture. It has been featured in films and television, including the 2009 film "Law Abiding Citizen" and an episode of MTV's "Beavis and Butt-Head", solidifying its place as a notable piece of music history.

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