Slayer, “Seasons in the Abyss”

We’re fans of Cory Schwartz in these parts, and he posted this tune today on Facebook. A tribute to Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died two years ago today.

I like to think Cory posted this cut because today’s Kentucky Derby winner was American Pharoah, owned by an Egyptian expat (echoing the video’s theme, or enhancing it), but untimely death is an equally appropriate trigger.

I didn’t know this song until I listened to it four or five times today, and I’m a little challenged by the question, What the fuck are they going on about. I recognize every emotion as part of the teenage kit, but the video makes me wonder about the Crusades, and their relation to the angst of the young today.

Maybe a topic for further exploration.

3 thoughts on “Slayer, “Seasons in the Abyss”

  1. I don’t know what it’s about. Maybe it’s a comment on the roots of their music, which reminds me of Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath. Maybe they’re saying that Vikings and Crusaders had a lot in common.The things we learn every day… Maybe they’re saying that we all need to mellow out. No? I’d like to hear them cover “Peace Train.”

  2. On one hand, I sort of like this – it’s certainly far from the worst stuff on this site. I love the stack of Marshalls in the middle of the desert.

    On the other hand, there’s something about the metal part of the difference between hard rock and metal that I simply can’t grasp. This sounds awfully condescending and I don’t mean it that way, but metal for me is like a Quadruple-A ballplayer, I’m almost there, but something keeps me from getting over the hump.

    Is it missing something? Is it too much something? Is it just me?

  3. I think the clearest thing they’re saying is Go Insane, which is a pretty rock principle. Maybe even give up jihad and Go Insane. Maybe even give up Norse exploration (while smoking a cigarette–no doubt Turkish tobacco) and Go Insane.

    I find the music befuddling because it rejects all swing. It is a music of precision and speed, without room for accidents and variance. The goal is to use precision to overcome, something. The contradiction is fascinating. I like this tune because of the changes, and the video, but I clearly don’t get the Ur-emotion here. When I want to go insane I listen to Prince.

    To me, in terms of liberation, it’s a little like pissing into the wind. But obviously I’m not in the demo.

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