Angel of Death (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Angel of Death" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Song by Slayer | ||
| from the album Reign in Blood | ||
| Released | October 7, 1986 | |
| Recorded | Los Angeles, California | |
| Genre | Thrash metal | |
| Length | 4:51 | |
| Label | Def Jam Records | |
| Writer(s) | Jeff Hanneman | |
| Producer(s) | Rick Rubin | |
"Angel of Death" is the opening track on the American thrash metal band Slayer's 1986 album Reign in Blood. The lyrics were written by Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman; based on Nazi physician Josef Mengele, who conducted human experiments at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. "Angel of Death" led to the band facing accusations of Nazi sympathizing and racism throughout their career.
Despite the controversy surrounding the song and its contribution to the delay in the release of Reign in Blood, "Angel of Death" is featured on all of Slayer's live albums and DVDs, and has appeared on the soundtracks of several movies. "Angel of Death" was well received by critics, and All Music Guide described it as a "classic."[1]
Contents |
[edit] Composition and origins
"Angel of Death"'s lyrics and music was written by Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, after reading two books on Nazi physician Josef Mengele while on tour with Slayer.[2] "I remember stopping some place where I bought two books on Mengele. I thought, 'This has gotta be some sick shit.' So when it came time to do the record, that stuff was still in my head—that’s where the lyrics to “Angel of Death” came from."[2]
The lyrics detail Mengele's surgical experiments on patients at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.[3][4] Mengele's explorations were conducted on such groups as dwarfs and twins, and included both physical and psychological examinations.[5][6] Amongst the tests he performed mentioned in "Angel of Death" are experimental surgeries performed without anesthesia,[7] transfusion of blood between twins, the sewing of bodies, isolation endurance, gassing, injections with lethal germs, sex change operations, and the removal of organs and limbs.
[edit] Controversy
"Angel of Death"'s lyrical content contributed to the delay in the release of Slayer's 1986 album Reign in Blood. The band were signed to Def Jam Records whose distributor, Columbia Records, refused to release the album due to lyrical themes and artwork concerns, deeming the artwork "too graphic".[2] Reign in Blood was eventually distributed by Geffen Records on October 7, 1986. However, due to the controversy, Reign in Blood did not appear on Geffen Records official release schedule.[2]
"Angel of Death" caused outrage among survivors of the Holocaust, as well as their families and the general public. The controversy lead to accusations of Nazi sympathizing which have followed Slayer throughout their career.[2] People took Hanneman's interest in Nazi history and his collection of Nazi medals as evidence of sympathizing –[2] his most prized item being a German Knight’s Cross.[8] Hanneman counteracted asserting:
| “ | "I know why people misinterpret it – it's because they get this knee–jerk reaction to it. When they read the lyrics, there's nothing I put in the lyrics that says necessarily he was a bad man, because to me – well, isn't that obvious? I shouldn't have to tell you that."[9] | „ |
According to guitarist Kerry King "'Yea, Slayer are Nazis, fascists, communists'—all that fun shit. And of course we got the most flack for it in Germany. I was always like, 'Read the lyrics and tell me what’s offensive about it. Can you see it as a documentary, or do you think Slayer’s preaching fucking World War II?' People get this thought in their heads—especially in Europe—and you’ll never talk them out of it."[2]
- "Angel of Death" (1986) (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- A 28 second sample from "Angel of Death", illustrating Araya's scream at the beginning of the song coupled with quick beats.
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
The song drew accusations of racism, although the band denied these claims, and countered that vocalist Tom Araya is of Chilean origin, while drummer Dave Lombardo of Hispanic ancestry.[2] The band's producer Rick Rubin has Jewish ancestry, and King had a guest appearance on Jewish hip hop group Beastie Boys song "No Sleep till Brooklyn".[2] The band members are often asked about the accusations in interviews, and have stated numerous times that they do not condone Nazism or racism and are merely interested in the subject.[10]
In 2006, the song "Jihad" from Slayer's 2006 album Christ Illusion drew comparison to "Angel of Death".[11] "Jihad" deals with the September 11, 2001 attacks, and tells the story from a terrorist's perspective. Vocalist Araya was expecting the subject matter to create a similar backlash to that of "Angel of Death", although it did not materialise,[12] in part, he believes, due to peoples' view that the song is merely "just Slayer being Slayer".[13]
[edit] Music and structure
"Angel of Death" is the longest track on the album Reign in Blood, spanning 4:51 minutes, where the total duration of the album is 28 minutes.[2] Hanneman and King deliver their intricate riffs, which offer the few hints of melody on the album,[1] and Araya bursts out his piercing scream,[14] with Lombardo performing at an average of 210 beats per minute.[15]
When drummer Lombardo left the band in 1992, due to conflicts with band members and his desire to bring his wife on tour,[16] the band chose Testament drummer Paul Bostaph.[17] Bostaph made one mistake out of the nine songs the band trialled him with, on "Angel of Death".[17] Before the "big double bass part" there's a lead section, which Bostaph could not understand, as he had to learn from live records recorded with Lombardo.[17] Bostaph could not tell how many revolutions the guitar riff goes before the bass sequence. The band members told him there was eight, "perfecting" the song after.[17]
[edit] Reception
Although "Angel of Death" did not enter any charts, it received strong praise from critics in reviews for Reign in Blood. Clay Jarvas of Stylus Magazine noted that the song "smokes the asses of any band playing fast and/or heavy today. Lyrically outlining the horrors to come, while musically laying the groundwork for the rest of the record: fast, lean and filthy."[18]
Adrien Begrand of Popmatters remarked that "There's no better song to kick things off than the masterful "Angel of Death", one of the most monumental songs in metal history, where guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman deliver their intricate riffs, drummer Dave Lombardo performs some of the most powerful drumming ever recorded, and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya screams and snarls his tale of Nazi war criminal Joseph Mengele."[14]
Capitalizing on the publicity generated by the controversy, the band utilized Nazi imagery by adapting a logo to one similar to the eagle atop swastika, during the Seasons in the Abyss period. Hanneman placed SS stickers on his guitar, and wrote "SS-3" a song about Reinhard Heydrich, the second in command in the Schutzstaffel organization.[19]
[edit] Appearances
"Angel of Death" has appeared in several movies, including Gremlins 2, in a scene when the gremlin Mohawk is turning into a spider.[20] It appears in Jackass: The Movie during a car stunt,[21] and features in the 2005 Iraq War documentary Soundtrack to War, which details the role of music on the contemporary battlefield.[22] The half–time riff was sampled by Public Enemy in their 1988 song "She Watch Channel Zero",[2] and featured in the multi–platform video game Tony Hawk's Project 8. Nolan Nelson, who selected the soundtrack for the game asserts the song is "one of the greatest heavy metal songs ever recorded. Don’t know who Slayer is? I feel sorry for you."[23]
A Slayer tribute band called Dead Skin Mask released an album with eight Slayer tracks, "Angel of Death" being one of them.[24] The death metal band Monstrosity covered the song,[25] and the track was featured on classical band Apocalyptica's 2006 album Amplified / A Decade of Reinventing the Cello.[26] Al Sur Del Abismo (Tributo Argentino A Slayer), a Slayer tribute CD compiled by Hurling Metal Records, featured sixteen tracks covered by Argentina metal bands, Asinesia covered "Angel of Death".[27] A compilation album of bands that have been featured in the Ozzfest line-up, of which Slayer have headlined multiple times, features "Angel of Death".[28]
"Angel of Death" is the first track featured on Slayer's compilation box set Soundtrack to the Apocalypse. The song is also featured on the live album Decade of Aggression and the music DVDs Live Intrusion, War at the Warfield and Still Reigning. An IGN review of Still Reigning by Andy Patrizio reasons that "age is beginning to creep on them, particularly bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. He can't hit the piercing shriek that opens "Angel of Death" any more or at the end of "Necrophobic."[29] A review of War at the Warfield also by Patrizio asserts "When he was tearing through "Postmortem" and "Angel of Death," I was waiting for him to go from his baritone growl to that air raid siren shriek, but it didn't happen.[30]
[edit] References
- ^ a b ((( Reign in Blood - Review ))). All Music Guide. Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k An exclusive oral history of Slayer. Decibel Magazine. Retrieved on December 3, 2006.
- ^ SLAYER's KING Says RICK RUBIN's Collaboration With METALLICA Was 'Slap In The Face'. Blabbermouth.net (2006-06-01). Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
- ^ Brown, Ashley (2007-02-03). Slayer is up for a Grammy — before the end times, that is.. Kansascity.com. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
- ^ Josef Mengele. auschwitz.dk. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ moreorless : heroes & killers of the 20th century - Josef Mengele. Moreorless.com (2001-04-30). Retrieved on December 1, 2006.
- ^ Roberts, Michael. Westworld Online interview with Kerry King. Slayersaves.com. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
- ^ Lahtinen, Lexi (2006-12-18). SLAYER - Jeff Hanneman. Metal-rules.com. Retrieved on December 27, 2006.
- ^ Davis, Brian. Knac.com interview with Jeff Hanneman. Knac.com. Retrieved on December 13, 2006.
- ^ Cummins , Johnson. Slayers Tom Araya on Satanism, serial killers and his lovable kids. MontrealMirror.com. Retrieved on December 2, 2006.
- ^ Kornelis, Chris (2006-06-14). Slayer expects blacklash with 'Jihad'. spokane7.com. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ Gargano, Paul (2007-01-25). LiveDaily Interview: Tom Araya of Slayer. LiveDaily.com. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ Lahtinen, Luxi (2006-12-18). SLAYER - Jeff Hanneman. Metal-rules.com. Retrieved on December 27, 2006.
- ^ a b Begrand, Adrien. The Devil in Music. Popmatters.com. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ Haug, Andrew (2006-10-13). Andrew Haug speaks with Dave Lombardo from Slayer. Abc.net.au. Retrieved on February 9, 2007.
- ^ Patrizio, Andy (2006-08-14). Meet the new Slayer, same as the old Slayer. IGN. Retrieved on December 1, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Syrjälä, Marko (2007-02-05). PAUL BOSTAPH of Exodus, ex-Slayer. Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved on March 7, 2007.
- ^ Jarvis, Clay (2003-09-01). Slayer Reign in Blood. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved on February 18, 2007.
- ^ Master of Death - Heydrich. Auschwitz.dk. Retrieved on January 26, 2007.
- ^ Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990). Joblo.com. Retrieved on February 18, 2007.
- ^ JACKASS CD. Cdunivserse.com. Retrieved on February 18, 2007.
- ^ Soundtrack to war. Soundtracktowar.com. Retrieved on February 18, 2007.
- ^ Electro vs. Metal – Music is the key of life.. IGN.com. Retrieved on February 18, 2007.
- ^ SLAYER Tribute Band DEAD SKIN MASK To Release CD. Blabbermouth.net (2004-12-23). Retrieved on March 11, 2007.
- ^ Lehtinen, Arto. Interview With Monstrosity's Lee Harrison. Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
- ^ APOCALYPTICA: 'Amplified' Collection To Feature New Recordings. Blabbermouth.net (2004-04-04). Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
- ^ SLAYER: Argentine Tribute Album Detailed. Blabbermouth.net (2006-06-10). Retrieved on March 11, 2007.
- ^ Ozzfest: Second Stage Live. All Music Guide. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ Patrizio, Andy (2005-01-11). Slayer: Still Reigning The landmark metal album performed in its entirety.. IGN. Retrieved on February 5, 2007.
- ^ Patrizio, Andy (2003-09-12). Slayer: War at the Warfield Evil shows its age.. IGN. Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
| Slayer |
| Tom Araya | Jeff Hanneman | Kerry King | Dave Lombardo |
| Discography |
|---|
| Albums and extended plays: Show No Mercy | Haunting the Chapel | Hell Awaits | Reign in Blood | South of Heaven | Seasons in the Abyss | Divine Intervention | Undisputed Attitude | Diabolus in Musica | God Hates Us All | Eternal Pyre | Christ Illusion |
| Live albums: Live Undead | Decade of Aggression |
| Compilations: Soundtrack to the Apocalypse |
| Videos and DVDs |
| Live Intrusion | War at the Warfield | Still Reigning |
| Songs |
| "Angel of Death" | "Raining Blood" | "Eyes of the Insane" | "Jihad" |
