Jeff Hanneman Tribute: His Five Best Solo Writing Credits For Slayer

Jeff Hanneman

Twenty-two years and eleven studio albums–that’s Jeff Hanneman’s body of work with the almighty Slayer. In that massive body of work, there actually aren’t all that many songs in which Hanneman gets the sole writing credits (being that Slayer are quite good at collaborating and all). The ones in which Hanneman does get the sole writing credits for, however, are pretty excellent. In honor of his recent and unfortunate passing, I’m here to count down my five favorite Hanneman-only Slayer tunes from over the years. You can stream them after the jump.

5. “Behind The Crooked Cross” from South Of Heaven in 1988

Hammeman’s writing chops and sense of rhythmic switches really set this apart from a lot of Slayer’s work up until this point, and “Behind The Crooked Cross” feels like an often-overlooked gem amidst some of Slayer’s best overall work.

4. “Hardening Of The Arteries” from Hell Awaits in 1985

Hell Awaits really put Slayer on the map, and “Hardening Of The Arteries” is the killing blow of what was definitely one of the heaviest and most intense albums on the planet when it came out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cklM6EAgTyQ

3. “Tormentor” from Show No Mercy in 1983

Once upon a time, Slayer weren’t the most brutal and aggressive band on the planet. Instead, they made a whole bunch of really awesome heavy metal songs, “Tormentor” being the best of the lot. Right in the vein of bands like Diamond Head, Slayer (believe it or not), have not always been a one trick pony.

2. “Psychopathy Red” from World Painted Blood in 2009

Most folks tend to avoid Slayer’s later material, since that’s just what metal purists do (I guess). For those folks who aren’t of that mindset, however, World Painted Blood has some really solid songs–including this one from the mind of Hanneman, which is one of the best Slayer songs post 2001’s God Hates Us All

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7om_DYWWKo

1. “Angel Of Death” from Reign In Blood in 1986

Not only is “Angel Of Death” Hanneman’s finest solo writing credit in the Slayer catalog, but it also happens to be one of not only Slayer’s best songs, but one of the best metal songs of all time. I distinctly remember the first time I heard this as a kid, and it changed the way I heard music from then on.

RIP Jeff Hanneman, your contributions to and influence upon the metal world are some of the greatest we’ve ever seen, you will be missed. Hell awaits.

(Photo credit to Andrew Stuart, his stuff is awesome!)

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One Response to “Jeff Hanneman Tribute: His Five Best Solo Writing Credits For Slayer”

  1. DƎTH says:

    TRIBUTE TO JEFF HANNEMAN BY A KID Angel of Death Riff/Solo
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfvaFgrqEvU