Warning: this article’s text contains gruesome imagery and discussion of the atrocities of World War II
Metal Heads and Rocksmith fans, welcome to HELL!
This week’s Rocksmith DLC is a Five pack from one of the most defining still active metal bands out there, @Slayer!
Now often at The Riff Repeater, we get things wrong. We predicted Oasis when it was Green Day, Def Leppard when it was Bob Dylan, and probably some other things you might remember, but I’ve never been happier to have assumed we wouldn’t get Angel of Death in this pack only to be proven completely wrong by @UbisoftStudioSF!
Let’s talk a bit about the significance of Angel of Death in a music game.
When Guitar Hero: Metallica was announced it was a pretty big deal, of course with Guitar Hero titles there are always side-bands included (unlike Rock Band’s band-centric titles like Green Day and The Beatles). Slayer was almost a given and most people were hoping to see one of Slayer’s most iconic and controversial songs, Angel of Death.
Metallica selected songs from their catalog that “pretty evenly represent all the different phases” of the band.[34] Lars Ulrich noted that the band stood up for the inclusion of the band Slayer against Microsoft‘s concerns on the explicit lyrical content of the group’s songs.[35] Alan Flores, lead designer for the game, noted that they had originally cleared Slayer’s “Angel of Death” but had to pull it at a late date due to pressure on the song’s background, instead, at the urging of Ulrich, successfully cleared “War Ensemble” and rushed to include it in the game.[10]
So basically @Activision was unwilling to include the song due to it’s subject matter. Shortly after Guitar Hero: Metallica of course was Rock Band’s inclusion of Slayer’s Black Magic (off their 1980 album Show No Mercy) as part of a DLC Pack featuring bands on the 2009 Mayhem Tour. Finally in 2010 @Harmonix gave Slayer it’s due with a three pack of songs from Slayer (two of which make up our Song pack this week) featuring a Pro Guitar upgrade for Raining Blood (a popular roadblock song on Guitar Hero III).
Either Harmonix wasn’t interested in the risk of including such a controversial song, the record label/band didn’t want to license it, or the fans didn’t want it (doubtful).
But why is Angel of Death such a controversial song?
Well it’s a song that educates the listener on the horrors of Nazi Doctor Josef Mengele who conducted horrific medical experiments on prisoners in Auschwitz. Among the tests detailed through Jeff Hanneman’s lyrics include surgery with no anesthesia, transfusion of blood between twins, isolation endurance, gassing, injections with lethal germs, sex change operations, the removal of organs and limbs, and abacination.
The controversy lies in the unspoken motive behind the song, was Jeff a neo-nazi or was he simply interested in the horrific history and acts committed surrounding the Holocaust?
Angel of Death (as a song) is so controversial it delayed the release of the album it was released on, 1986’s Reign in Blood.
The lyrical content of “Angel of Death” contributed to the delay of the release of Slayer’s 1986 album Reign in Blood. The band were signed to Def Jam Records whose distributor, Columbia Records, refused to release the album due to lyrical themes and artwork concerns, deeming the artwork “too graphic”.[2] Reign in Blood was eventually distributed by Geffen Records on October 7, 1986. However, due to the controversy, Reign in Blood did not appear on Geffen Records official release schedule.[2]
Over @Slayer’s career they have had to constantly address the questions regarding the song, here is what Jeff and Kerry (King) had to say.
“I know why people misinterpret it – it’s because they get this knee–jerk reaction to it. When they read the lyrics, there’s nothing I put in the lyrics that says necessarily he was a bad man, because to me – well, isn’t that obvious? I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”[12]
– Jeff Hannenman
“Yeah, ‘Slayer are Nazis, fascists, communists’—all that fun shit. And of course we got the most flak for it in Germany. I was always like, ‘Read the lyrics and tell me what’s offensive about it. Can you see it as a documentary, or do you think Slayer’s preaching f***ing World War II?’ People get this thought in their heads—especially in Europe—and you’ll never talk them out of it.”[2]
– Kerry King
(0:00-1:50) Bands in Israel discuss Angel of Death
So in closing, for all the flack people give Rocksmith on releasing censored versions of songs… They released Angel of freaking Death!
So what other three songs await you in this week’s Slayer song pack?
Off the 1990 album Seasons in the Abyss we not only get the title track but also my most wanted Slayer request, Dead Skin Mask! Yes, finally we can learn the beautiful love song detailing serial killer, Ed Gein. Rounding off the pack is the title track of 1988’s South of Heaven which I listened to a lot due to it’s inclusion in Zero Skateboard’s Misled Youth.
Slayer Song Pack – $11.99 / Steam
- Slayer “Angel of Death” – Eb Standard – [XBL] / [Steam]
- Slayer “Dead Skin Mask” – Eb Standard – [XBL] / [Steam]
- Slayer “Raining Blood” – Eb Standard – [XBL] / [Steam]
- Slayer “Seasons In The Abyss” – Eb Standard – [XBL] / [Steam]
- Slayer “South of Heaven” – Eb Standard – [XBL] / [Steam]
It’s all Eb Standard this week!
| httpvh://youtu.be/fbnJ4xzrIp4 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7D47jGyESo |
| httpvh://youtu.be/VhpZAkVwShM | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnxxsyR8UzY |
| httpvh://youtu.be/21uTdrwsTos | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg8EQ9AP1Xo |
| httpvh://youtu.be/TGmWa9wB1qo | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIAtq7Us5o |
| httpvh://youtu.be/sGivdhSPSEA | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwbVaSjM4Nc |
Are you excited to learn these five Slayer songs? Or is this not metal enough (no, seriously.. What is wrong with you? lol). Or are you sick of Metal and looking forward to the variety of weeks to come? Let us know!
Don’t really want to hear any more music from the 80’s… I lived it .. Most of it sucked.. Thank god for Alice in chains, soundgarden ,Pearl jam and nirvana to put an end to poison,warrant and winger… The Crüe were great though
Slayer … ehh. Guess this means that we’re a step closer to having something out there for everyone. Just sounds like noise to me though (and no I’m not pushing 100 :P). Was much happier with the Anthrax pack
Metal. From the 80s. Its like all the worst things happened at once.
Metal from the 80s is the best thing going round. I just wish Ubisoft gave a little more love to the Hair bands like Ratt, Quiet Riot, Poison and Motley Crue (don’t even care who I piss off with that comment)
Hell death and destruction … I could just imagine explaining that to the principal at the grade school!!
It’s possible the principal has every album and an “Alter of Sacrifice” at home. Not very likely, but possible 🙂
Slayer seem a little bit out of my range… Plus I don’t know if the wife would approve with 3 little kids running around… Maybe if the lyrics were muted
When I was 13 I had a friend that only listened to Slayer. He had all their albums and it was always on at his house (we, his friends all hated it). But strangely hearing “seasons of the abyss” is nostalgic. It is for that reason only that I will add to my already crowded metal selection on Rocksmith.
ZAKK WYLDE PLEASE!!!!! You can do it. He’s on that other guitar game (the one with the sucky interface)
Music that blatantly glorifies and worships Satan? Call me old-fashioned, but I’ll pass.
The singer Tom Araya is a Christian, also only 2 or 3 songs actually “glorify” Satan.
You do realize how ridiculous that sounds right? Christians don’t glorify Satan, they glorify the Lord. And for the record I have extensively read slayer lyrics and there’s more than two or three songs that actually glorify Satan. Look at the band logo that should tell you everything you need to know.
Its entertainment. Just because you watch Nightmare on Elm Street doesn’t make you a murdering pedophile.
Jason, just wanted to let you know I understand where you’re going with that and I agree with you. Guess there’s a couple of us old fashioned folk on here.
Not throwing any darts at those enjoying this week’s pack. Y”all enjoy.
I wish that I could survive as long as you, needing everything spoon fed to me and ultra literal in its message.
Decent selections for the pack but Slayer was never an interesting band to me….Hoping one day there’s a random metal pack and they boost Souls of Black off Bandfuse and put it on RS…
That’s a network for all Ubisoft games. You earn points for certain achievements which you can use to purchase add-ons for the games. For rocksmith their is a song (which I find difficult) and a couple other things.
Thanks… Didn’t even think about that … What is uplay all about??… I don’t get it at all
I am certain you can find the original rocksmith through Amazon or eBay.
Just got the game about a 3 weeks ago.. Can I still get the original “rocksmith” can’t find it in stores anywhere… Just underwent mcl surgery .. Thought I’d pick up a hobby for the next 6 months
I would check amazon or ebay. Im sure youll be able to find it there.
Thank you, Elliot. I apologize for my postings. Just couldn’t take that guy anymore.
Sorry,
Gotch71 will no longer be commenting here.
He will be missed…
Cheers for Eliott!
I came.
Good heavens, you gave that guy a chance and he just kept moving in the wrong direction. Every comment was negative. Never had anything positive to say or even just to say what he would like to see on RS. No one wants to hear constant negativity. While I’m not into Slayer or anything remotely close to this type of music, there are people who like the group. Slayer are a Top 40 requested group for a reason. Respect that. And many of the folks who requested them are on Riff Repeater’s site.
Note: I hope no one pops up to take that guy’s place should Ubisoft go the other direction and release Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Staple Singers, Fred Hammond, or Andre Crouch songs on RS. Weird how folks seem to be just as afraid of gospel as they are of metal.
Anyway, the point is this:
We are all here for the love of music. And while we may not agree with the message in every genre, respect those who love the music.
Elliot (aka the Sandman Sims of this theater) – Thanks for bringing out the broom.
.
Blood death blood death death kill blood blood death angel reign death blood on you blood death death destruction kill … What ya think I just wrote a slayer song
That doesn’t even rhyme.
Hey gonch, let’s stick to the music and not your closed minded opinion on music or your belittling comments. But it might be your little man syndrome, not sure yet. At least your having fun with the last few weeks of downloads. Oh can you bring your mom and I some drinks from the basement we are thirsty after an afternoon romp.
Btw gotch, both Slayer and Metallica were formed in 1981. So how is either one a rip off of the other?
As for all comments so far, awesome. Great pack very fun even though have only scratched the surface playing songs till 4am. Nappy time
Awesome pack……dead skin mask is my favorite slayer song…. angel of death and training raining blood…. My hand is going to fall off…. Only a Metallica pack or tool pack would have been better
Gay drew the 80’s called it wants its bad rips back……what’s up with slayer every song has the word death in it ???… Real original … This group is a bad rip off of early Metallica … At this point I’d rather listen to ac/dc Say rock 10x in every song they have…p.s…. Have no idea who one dimension is but gay drew has all their albums obviously .. 🙂
Have you actually listened to EVERY SLAYER SONG EVER to say that each one has the word death in it? Damn, son.
Oh, and making fun of people’s names is elementary school bullying.
Now get the HELL off this thread, if you hate Slayer so much, then stop coming here.
Leave a youtube link with the best you can do on RS. I have a feeling that you’d need practice to get anywhere close to this week’s dlc. You know, for bragging rights.
Hey gotch, I own my house. You better give one dimension a call. They’re looking for a new singer
Well, I have to say it’s been pretty awesome being Slayer’s third guitarist today. Great lineup of songs and the guitar tones are pretty top notch – no complaints there. I’ve always thought Hanneman’s solos are mostly nonsense so good luck with me 100%-ing any of those, ha ha! That, and there’s one note in Seasons that reaches up to the 24th fret and I’ll be damned if my guitar stops at 23 (I think – kind of hard to tell with all the flurry of aggressive activity going on!). But yeah, awesome stuff and it’s all shit I haven’t listened to since I used to rock out to Slayer on my old Sony Walkman while I worked my paper route. Before you see the light…you must diiiiiie!!!
Hey Scoobs, try a pre-bend at 23rd. Should be the same thing with a little practice. Hope it helps.
My download has been pending for 2 hours. Anyone else having this issue?
on Xbox 360?
Yes, I’ve never had one take this long. Must be jammed up with everyone downloading huh?
I would cancel the download and try it again
It worked! Thanks!
That same thing has happened to me the last 3-4 packs I’ve downloaded. This pack went fine but the others not so much. But yeah, for anyone else having that problem, just re-download and it works fine then.
Gray drew ur mom called she wants her rent or u can give her back the keys to her garage..guess she ain’t getting all that rent money because you just paid for crap downloads
Take ur ponytails out put ur bandanas on and break out the Aqua-net… Slayer is here…Zzzzzzzz no guys I have a job can’t be online belittling crap music all the time..
I loved this review of the pack. You didn’t just give short little bits but gave some info about the band and songs. These kind of things could help people give the Band a chance. Believe it or not, people won’t give some music a chance, just because of what they herd about the band. I hope you do more DLC reviews like this. Also AMAZING pack.
Not a review persay, but thanks for the kind words. I felt it was important to explain the impact and gravity of a song like Angel of Death being added to Rocksmith 2014.
It’s not showing up on Xbox 1. Is it only me?
Microsoft hasn’t posted the XB1 songs yet, I’ll let you know when they do
The DLC is now available on Xbox One!
Wished for the inclusion of Black Magic, Metal Storm/Face The Slayer or Bitter Peace, but I’ll forgive it because Angel of Death. Can’t wait to get home from work today. These songs should keep me busy for a while.
Dayumm just played Raining blood and Angel of Death on bass. I know very little about slayer other than their influence on metal. Gotta say I’m loving playing these songs. Awesome pack. I sincerely wanna thank everyone at Rocksmith for broadening my horizons and introducing me to music I wouldn’t normally listen to as well as for putting what seems to be an amazing pack together. I’m going to play my fingers to the bone tonight on some Slayer!!
Was hoping for “Ghosts of War” but I will gladly take it.
I would have preferred something from Show No Mercy, I would love to have had Tormentor or Crionics. Maybe even to have Black Magic, Die by the Sword.
But that’s not to say this is a bad pack at all. My personal preference is those songs. I do love Seasons in the Abyss and am glad that was included.
This pleases me
Just played through the pack on Lead. Angel of Death I failed out twice during the solo (made it through the last bar and then failed). Aside from the solo, the song is a blast and prob the most difficult over all. Got an 840 note streak leading up to the solo!
Raining Blood pretty much requires a whammy bar to make it sound decent… I don’t have one so the solo sounded like more of a jumbled mess than it already did.
I already knew how to play Angel of Death & Raining Blood (sans solos) so, I had a bit of an advantage on those but the last three I had never tried to learn before.
Dead Skin Mask was a little easier overall. Slower tempo with some simple arpeggios. Solo is still a bitch. Think I got Bronze on that bc of the solo.
Seasons In The Abyss and South of Heaven are also a slower pace and really fun to play. Managable after a little bit of practice. Once again, solos be damned.
All the solos are going to require intensive riff repeater sessions to get even close to how they play. Good luck everybody!
thanks for the pack TRR! it’s 7AM est, my speakers are cranked… neighbors be damned! hell awaits!
what do you mean by “roadblock song” in the bit you talk about Raining Blood?
GH 1-3 made you unlock songs by completing “sets” of 5 (IIRC) songs. Raining Blood was extremely hard and for people trying to unlock that setlists other songs was generally where they’d get stuck… in other words, roadblocked.
he means a song that many had difficulty getting through because it was so hard!
Best pack of the year.
Finally Ángel of death in rocksmith instabuy
Longly awaited … A pure experience is soon to follow
Not much of a Slayer fan, as I said before, but this is a perfect pack. I may buy it just to tell Ubi thanks and show them their efforts are very appreciated!
What? No hopelessly inane comments from superhater gotch71? Maybe he went to a Slayer show and got converted into a stage prop for Angel of Death. One can only hope. Awesome pack
Patience, Grasshopper. He’ll be back.
Good write up Elliot. The track selection couldn’t have been better imo. UbiSF nailed it with Slayer. Instabuy
4chan’s /pol/ will be pleased with the inclusion of Angel Of Death.
This is the perfect 5 pack of songs. Has any other DLC been so perfect for the artist or band they have been releasing?
Eb? Thought drop D for sure!