Dive into the dark, atmospheric world of a thrash metal masterpiece that defied expectations.
The Song
"South of Heaven" is the title track from Slayer's fourth studio album, released in 1988. It marked a significant shift in the band's sound, moving away from the blistering speeds of their previous album, "Reign in Blood," to embrace a slower, more deliberate, and undeniably heavier approach. The track is renowned for its ominous, foreboding guitar riffs and a mid-tempo pace that builds an intense, suffocating atmosphere, a stark contrast to their usual breakneck speed. Lyrically, the song delves into themes of good versus evil and the absence of hope, painting a bleak picture that perfectly complements its sonic landscape.
The composition of "South of Heaven" is often cited as a testament to Slayer's evolving musicality, demonstrating their ability to craft powerful, impactful music without relying solely on sheer velocity. The iconic opening riff, characterized by its descending melodic line, immediately sets a sinister tone. This track proved that Slayer could be just as brutal and menacing by slowing down, allowing the crushing weight of their riffs to fully sink in.
The Artist
Formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981, Slayer became one of the "Big Four" of thrash metal, alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Known for their relentless aggression, dark lyrical themes encompassing war, serial killers, and anti-religious sentiments, and incredibly fast tempos, Slayer carved out a unique and influential niche in the heavy metal genre. The band's classic lineup consisted of Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitars), Jeff Hanneman (guitars), and Dave Lombardo (drums).
Slayer's impact on extreme metal is immeasurable, inspiring countless bands across various subgenres. Their uncompromising approach to music and visuals often drew controversy, which only solidified their rebellious image and appeal among their dedicated fanbase. With albums like "Reign in Blood" (1986), "South of Heaven" (1988), and "Seasons in the Abyss" (1990), they consistently pushed the boundaries of speed and heaviness, leaving an indelible mark on music history.
Chart Performance
The album "South of Heaven," featuring the title track, was a commercial success for Slayer, signaling their growing mainstream recognition without compromising their artistic integrity. The album peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard 200 chart. This marked their highest chart position at the time and demonstrated a significant increase in their audience compared to their earlier releases.
While "South of Heaven" was not released as a commercial single, the album's strong performance underscored the song's popularity and its contribution to the overall success of the record. The album eventually achieved Gold certification in the United States, further cementing its status as a landmark release in thrash metal.
Cultural Impact
"South of Heaven" stands as a pivotal track in Slayer's discography and in the broader thrash metal landscape. It demonstrated that speed wasn't the only ingredient for extreme metal, showcasing the power of atmosphere, heavy grooves, and intricate, unsettling riff work. This shift influenced many bands to explore different dynamics within their heavy sound. The song is frequently featured in Slayer's live sets and remains a fan favorite, often opening their shows with its chilling intro.
The video for "South of Heaven" itself, directed by Dean Karr, is a minimalistic yet powerful visual representation of the song's dark themes. It primarily features the band performing in a stark, dimly lit setting, intercut with unsettling, often abstract imagery and disturbing scenes that reinforce the song's bleak outlook on humanity and morality. The raw, unfiltered nature of the video perfectly encapsulated the band's ethos and the song's unsettling message.
Fun Facts
- Tom Araya has stated that "South of Heaven" is one of his favorite Slayer songs to perform live.
- The slower tempo of "South of Heaven" was a deliberate choice by the band, intended to make the music sound "more evil" and provide a stark contrast to the relentless speed of "Reign in Blood."
- The album's cover art, designed by Larry Carroll, features a skeletal figure surrounded by various demonic and disturbing imagery, perfectly reflecting the album's dark themes.
- Kerry King has admitted that slowing down after "Reign in Blood" was initially difficult for the band, but ultimately paid off in creating a more diverse sound.
- The song's distinctive opening riff is often considered one of the most recognizable and iconic in thrash metal history.Dive into the dark, atmospheric world of a thrash metal masterpiece that defied expectations.
The Song
"South of Heaven" is the title track from Slayer's fourth studio album, released on July 5, 1988, by Def Jam Recordings. It marked a significant shift in the band's sound, moving away from the blistering speeds of their previous album, "Reign in Blood," to embrace a slower, more deliberate, and undeniably heavier approach. The track is renowned for its ominous, foreboding guitar riffs and a mid-tempo pace that builds an intense, suffocating atmosphere, a stark contrast to their usual breakneck speed. Lyrically, the song, primarily penned by Tom Araya and Jeff Hanneman, delves into themes of good versus evil and the absence of hope, painting a bleak picture that perfectly complements its sonic landscape.
The composition of "South of Heaven" is often cited as a testament to Slayer's evolving musicality, demonstrating their ability to craft powerful, impactful music without relying solely on sheer velocity. The iconic opening riff, characterized by its descending melodic line, immediately sets a sinister tone. This track proved that Slayer could be just as brutal and menacing by slowing down, allowing the crushing weight of their riffs to fully sink in. The decision to slow down was a conscious one, as the band felt they "couldn't top Reign in Blood" in terms of speed and wanted to "keep people guessing."
The Artist
Formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981, Slayer became one of the "Big Four" of thrash metal, alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Known for their relentless aggression, dark lyrical themes encompassing war, serial killers, and anti-religious sentiments, and incredibly fast tempos, Slayer carved out a unique and influential niche in the heavy metal genre. The band's classic lineup consisted of Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitars), Jeff Hanneman (guitars), and Dave Lombardo (drums).
Slayer's impact on extreme metal is immeasurable, inspiring countless bands across various subgenres. Their uncompromising approach to music and visuals often drew controversy, which only solidified their rebellious image and appeal among their dedicated fanbase. With albums like "Reign in Blood" (1986), "South of Heaven" (1988), and "Seasons in the Abyss" (1990), they consistently pushed the boundaries of speed and heaviness, leaving an indelible mark on music history.
Chart Performance
The album "South of Heaven," featuring the title track, was a commercial success for Slayer, signaling their growing mainstream recognition without compromising their artistic integrity. The album peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard 200 chart. This marked their highest chart position at the time and demonstrated a significant increase in their audience compared to their earlier releases.
While "South of Heaven" was released as a single, no specific chart data is widely available for its individual single performance. However, the album's strong performance underscored the song's popularity and its contribution to the overall success of the record. The album eventually achieved Gold certification in the United States on November 20, 1992, further cementing its status as a landmark release in thrash metal. It also received silver certification in the United Kingdom on January 1, 1993, a first for Slayer in that country.
Cultural Impact
"South of Heaven" stands as a pivotal track in Slayer's discography and in the broader thrash metal landscape. It demonstrated that speed wasn't the only ingredient for extreme metal, showcasing the power of atmosphere, heavy grooves, and intricate, unsettling riff work. This shift influenced many bands to explore different dynamics within their heavy sound. The song is frequently featured in Slayer's live sets and remains a fan favorite, often opening their shows with its chilling intro.
The video for "South of Heaven" itself, while not having a widely credited director in available searches, is a minimalistic yet powerful visual representation of the song's dark themes. It primarily features the band performing in a stark, dimly lit setting, intercut with unsettling, often abstract imagery and disturbing scenes that reinforce the song's bleak outlook on humanity and morality. The raw, unfiltered nature of the video perfectly encapsulated the band's ethos and the song's unsettling message. Tom Araya's vocal delivery on the track also contributed to its unique atmosphere, moving towards a more "diabolical and detached" singing style compared to his earlier "machine gun bark."
Fun Facts
- Tom Araya has stated that "South of Heaven" is one of his favorite Slayer songs to perform live.
- The album "South of Heaven" was the only Slayer album that the band members discussed before writing the music, making a deliberate decision to slow down the tempo after the frenetic pace of "Reign in Blood."
- The album's cover art was designed by Larry Carroll, who also designed the artwork for "Reign in Blood" and subsequent Slayer albums.
- Guitarist Kerry King has openly expressed that "South of Heaven" is his least favorite Slayer album, citing a "dry spell" during its writing and disliking Tom Araya's new vocal style.
- The track "Cleanse the Soul" from the album has never been played live, with Kerry King famously hating the song and its "happy riff."
- The album features a cover of Judas Priest's "Dissident Aggressor," which was the first time Slayer included a cover song on one of their studio albums.