Like me, I’m sure many of you took Sharpies to our notebooks and lockers, pledging our unholy allegiance to Araya, Hanneman, King and Lombardo.
Along with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax, Slayer is one of the Big Four ’80s thrash metal bands. In the decades that followed, Slayer is the only one to maintain its credibility among an extremely judgmental hoard.
Guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died of liver failure at 49 on six years ago today, was the songwriter, sometimes-lyricist and shredding fingers behind some of Slayer’s most enduring songs: the impossibly fast and insane “Angel of Death,” the manic “Dead Skin Mask” and “South of Heaven,” to name just a few.
Slayer’s rise to success was designed by the iconic riffs created by Hanneman and to say that he created some of the most memorable riffs not only in the Thrash Metal genre but Heavy Metal as a whole, is an understatement.
Six years ago today Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died and his loss is something that still pulls at the heartstrings somewhat. Although Slayer has soldiered on without their fallen brother, the band are currently in the midst of their final world tour, a definite eventuality once Jeff passed away.
Everyone knows the importance of Slayer’s influence and in particular, Jeff as a composer and guitarist.
His influence to the Thrash Metal’s rich history is incalculable, not to mention the impact he as a person had on the crossover sub-genres such as Punk/Hardcore/Black and Death metal. His legacy will forever live on.
RIP Jeff Hanneman. [1969-2013]
Oran O’Beirne
www.overdrive.ie 2019
