It's June 6, Slayer fans from all over the world are blasting 'Angel Of Death' through their car speakers, metalheads scream the band's name whenever they feel like it and a freight train of pussies have no idea what's going on. Founded on 6/6/2006, International Day of Slayer pays homage to the godfathers of thrash metal. The band around Tom Araya and co have been influencing musicians for decades, since 1981 to be exact. So, why not do a 15 songs, dedicated to Slayer and in full Merchants Of Air mode. Here are fifteen awesome and surprising covers. But we'll start with a bonus.
Slayer Christmas Lights
American love to overdo their holiday decorations, which for the most part makes the whole season an orgy of clichés. However, here and there some hilarious light art shows up, like this festive rendering of 'Angel Of Death'.
Vader - Raining Blood
To get adjusted to the idea of Slayer cover, we'll start in the world of extreme metal. Polish death metal legends Vader were founded only two years after Slayer but the influence is tremendous. They paid homage to the thrash leaders with this intense cover of 'Raining Blood'.
Carnifex - Angel Of Death
A more modern death metal version of 'Angel Of Death' comes from American deathcore act Carnifex.
Cradle Of Filth - Hell Awaits
A more haunting version of Slayer's music comes from black metal innovators Cradle Of Filth, who recorded this cover of 'Hell Awaits' for their Lovecraft & Witch Heart compilation album.
Fleshcrawl - Necrophiliac
In the extreme regions we also find this insane version of 'Necrophiliac'. Well, we found heaps of version but this grinder by Flashcrawl is one of my favorites.
Korn - South of Heaven
But Slayer isn't only present in the extreme corners of the metal industry. Nu-metal pioneers Korn have also been influenced by Hanneman and company. Here is their version of 'South Of Heaven'.
Body Count - Raining In Blood / Postmortem
Ice-T and Slayer are no strangers to each other. Together, they wrote the song 'Disorder' for the 'Judgement Day' soundtrack. In 2017, he and his Body Count act played this version of Raining In Blood / Postmortem'
Nadja - Dead Skin Mask
But it's not all extreme and metal and stuff. Aidan Baker is a huge Slayer fan too. So when they decided to record a cover album with Nadja, 'Dead Skin Mask' just had to be on the playlist.
Tori Amos - Raining Blood
Or how about going all minimal and introvert with this beautiful cover by Tori Amos. She proves that it's not all metal that shines.
Walt Ribeiro - Raining Blood
There are those Christmas lights again, fitting quite perfectly with this classical composition of 'Raining Blood' by American composer Walt Ribeiro.
Duran Duran Duran
Something completely different entirely comes from breakcore act Duran Duran Duran who mix Slayer riffs with gabber and breakcore beats.
Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra - Dead Skin Mask
Another brilliant rendition of 'Dead Skin Mask' comes from this jazz big band. With no less than seventeen members, they give this track an awesome makeover.
Yoko Ono - Raining Blood
Slayer as performance art is also possible, or at least, that is what Yoko Ono is trying to prove here. That woman is mad!
Apocalyptica - South of Heaven
I guess you need something to calm your nerves after that Ono performance. So here are cello-metal act Apocalyptica and their live version of 'South Of Heaven'.
Rudebrat - Angel of Death (Rudebrat Deathstep Remix)
Just to piss some people off, here is Slayer meets dubstep, courtesy of Rudebrat and his dance festival mix of 'Angel Of Death'.
Rob Scallon - Raining Blood
Ok ok, one more 'Raining Blood' but this time it has to feature a fucking banjo. That brings us to Rob Scallon and his redneck version. See you all in the madhouse...
