Raining Blood

About this song

One of Slayer's signature songs, it closes and lends its name to their most acclaimed album. Kerry King and the late Jeff Hanneman have called it one of their favorite songs to play live, and it has been a near-permanent fixture in the band's live sets for more than 30 years, often performed amid a rain of stage blood.

What it's about

Hanneman described it as being about a figure in Purgatory who was cast out of Heaven and waits for revenge against that place. King said the song depicts what happens once he starts attacking people, with the title representing the angels' blood falling on him.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 10 other songs, like “Awaiting the Hour by ILL BILL (Ft. Killah Priest)”.
• Covered 11 times, including “Postmortem/Raining Blood by Havok”.
• Written by Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman.
• Produced by Rick Rubin and Slayer.
• Recorded at Hit City West Studios in Los Angeles.