In the original lineup, King, Hanneman and Araya contributed to the band's lyrics, and all of the band's music was written by King and Hanneman. The band's lyrics and album art, which cover topics such as serial killers, torture, genocide, organized crime, secret societies, occultism, terrorism, religion or antireligion, fascism, racism and war, have generated album bans, delays, lawsuits and criticism from religious groups. However, its music has been highly influential, being cited by many bands as an influence musically, visually and lyrically; the band's third album, Reign in Blood (1986), has been described as one of the heaviest and most influential thrash metal albums.
Slayer released twelve studio albums, three live albums, a box set, six music videos, two extended plays and a cover album. Four of the band's studio albums have received gold certification in the United States. Slayer sold 5 million copies in the United States from 1991 to 2013, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and over 20 million worldwide. The band has received five Grammy Award nominations, winning one in 2007 for the song "Eyes of the Insane" and one in 2008 for the song "Final Six", both of which were from the album Christ Illusion (2006). After more than three decades of recording and performing, Slayer announced in January 2018 that it would embark on a farewell tour, which took place from May 2018 to November 2019, after which the band disbanded.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slayer
Studio albums
Show No Mercy (1983)
Hell Awaits (1985)
Reign in Blood (1986)
South of Heaven (1988)
Seasons in the Abyss (1990)
Divine Intervention (1994)
Undisputed Attitude (1996)
Diabolus in Musica (1998)
God Hates Us All (2001)
Christ Illusion (2006)
World Painted Blood (2009)
Repentless (2015)
Epidemic
Slayer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Infectious driving dormant seed
Inside your carcass start to mate
Left in charge to dominate
Waiting to unfold
Raging uncontrolled
Adapt a potency
Unyielding kings of agony
Test your body chemistry
Pulmonary overthrow
Possession of your inner throne
Invasions quickly override
Malicious domineering strike
Floods your veins, commit slow death
Deteriorate your makers met
Perpetual demise
On a fast decline
Killing tendency
Epidemic, permanent disease
Incapacitate
Fall into your fate
Pain results in screams
Bleed eternally
Years will pass before it can be cured
The lyrics to Slayer's song Epidemic describe the terrifying spread of a deadly disease. The opening line, "Breeding fast in poverty," suggests that the disease is most likely to take hold in poor areas, where it can spread quickly due to overcrowding and lack of access to healthcare. The disease is described as "infectious driving dormant seed," which could refer to a virus or bacteria that can lie dormant in a person's body for some time before it becomes active and starts to reproduce.
As the disease takes hold, it begins to "infest" the host's body, "left in charge to dominate." The lyrics suggest that the disease is not only deadly but also highly adaptable, with a "potency" that allows it to become a "death machine." The host's body becomes a "corpse to be" as the disease takes over.
The second half of the song describes the effects of the disease as it "floods your veins" and "deteriorates your makers met" (i.e., your body's natural defenses). The disease is portrayed as a malevolent force that takes over the host's body and causes "perpetual demise" and a "fast decline." The song ends on a bleak note, with the suggestion that it will take many years before a cure can be found.
Line by Line Meaning
Breeding fast in poverty
The disease spreads quickly in impoverished areas where there is poor sanitation and lack of access to medical care.
Infectious driving dormant seed
The virus can lay dormant in a person's body for a long time and spread easily to others without them knowing.
Inside your carcass start to mate
Once inside the body, the virus multiplies and reproduces rapidly.
Left in charge to dominate
The virus takes over the host's body and controls its functions for its own survival and propagation.
Waiting to unfold
The virus is waiting for the right moment to begin its attack on the host's body.
Raging uncontrolled
Once the virus takes over the host's body, it spreads rapidly and without restraint.
Adapt a potency
The virus is able to mutate and become more potent, making it harder to fight.
Death machine, infest my corpse to be
The virus turns the host's body into a death machine, killing it from the inside and using it to spread the disease to others.
Unyielding kings of agony
The virus causes intense pain and suffering with no cure or relief in sight.
Test your body chemistry
The virus attacks the host's immune system, testing its ability to fight off infection.
Pulmonary overthrow
The virus attacks the lungs and respiratory system, making it difficult for the host to breathe and leading to respiratory failure.
Possession of your inner throne
The virus takes over the host's body and controls its functions, including those of the internal organs.
Invasions quickly override
The virus overpowers the host's immune system and takes control of the body's functions.
Malicious domineering strike
The virus attacks the host's body with a fierce and aggressive onslaught, causing widespread damage and destruction.
Floods your veins, commit slow death
The virus spreads through the host's bloodstream, causing slow and painful death over a prolonged period of time.
Deteriorate your makers met
The virus attacks and weakens the body's natural defense mechanisms, making it more susceptible to infection and disease.
Perpetual demise
The virus causes ongoing and continuous destruction of the host's body and functions, leading to eventual death.
On a fast decline
The host's condition deteriorates rapidly, with little hope of recovery or survival.
Killing tendency
The virus has a natural tendency and ability to cause death and destruction.
Epidemic, permanent disease
The virus spreads rapidly and widely through a population, causing long-lasting and irreversible damage.
Incapacitate
The virus renders the host unable to function or perform normal activities, leading to severe disability and dependence on others for care.
Fall into your fate
The host is powerless to stop the virus and is destined to succumb to its effects.
Pain results in screams
The virus causes intense pain and agony, leading to screams of agony and suffering.
Bleed eternally
The virus causes continuous bleeding and damage to internal organs, leading to eventual death.
Years will pass before it can be cured
It will take many years and extensive research to find a cure for the virus and prevent its spread.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jeffery John Hanneman, Kerry King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind