10 Greatest Slayer Riffs [Watch]
Continuing our Loud List series on rock and metal’s best riffs, we move on to arguably thrash’s most powerful riff machine, Slayer.
Throughout Jeff Hanneman’s lifetime, he composed a collection of metal’s most sinister and uncomfortable riffs worthy of the most terrifying of hellscapes. The intro riff for “Raining Blood” is one of the most intense leads in music history, instantly burning itself into your memory on first listen. Reign in Blood is full of classic riffs, including the somewhat underrated “Postmortem,” which Hanneman also composed.
Slayer were riff masters from their very first album, Show No Mercy, especially with the first track of side two, “Black Magic.” A few years later, Slayer had further developed their signature sound, abandoning many of the NWOBHM dynamics which influenced their early songs. Hell Awaits is perhaps when Slayer truly became the band we know today, with “At Dawn They Sleep” setting a terrifying tone for what was to come.
When Slayer decided to change things up with the masterful South of Heaven, they didn’t jettison riffage like they did with relentless speed. South of Heaven is a gold mine of riffs, boasting incredible licks like “Silent Scream,” “Live Undead,” “Mandatory Suicide” and, of course, the album’s title track.
Check out our picks for the 10 Greatest Slayer Riffs in the Loud List above!
10 Greatest Pantera Riffs
10 Unforgettable Rammstein Moments
More From 96.3 The Blaze
![Unhygienic Burglar Busted Because He Didn’t Flush the Toilet](http://townsquare.media/site/390/files/2017/08/Andrew-David-Jensen.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Godsmack Pay Tribute to Chester Bennington + Chris Cornell, Discuss Direction of New Album](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2017/08/Godsmack.png?w=980&q=75)
![4th Summer Judging the Food Competitions at the Fair](http://townsquare.media/site/117/files/2017/08/20732717_10212414036017940_1221904839_n.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![2017 Missoula Symphony in the Park](http://townsquare.media/site/898/files/2017/08/missoula-symphony.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Montana Morning Headlines – August 10, 2017](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2017/08/Fire-at-night.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
![Chris Cornell Memorial Statue To Be Built in Seattle](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2017/05/Chris-Cornell3.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![UM President Candidate List Narrowed to 13 Semifinalists](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2017/08/UM-Main-Hall-2-Todd-Goodrich.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Mayor Announces Higher Tax Base Means No Tax Increase For Missoulians](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2017/08/MTN-Water-Engen.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Metallica Rock ‘Little Mermaid’ + More in ‘Carpool Karaoke’, Plus News on Def Leppard + More](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2017/08/Metallica-Wire-to-Wire.jpg?w=980&q=75)