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)
Vices
Slayer Lyrics
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And the reason behind its incompetence
Faith in God is the vice, bring on the tyranny
Won't be long 'til you find the real irony
Life drags on and we watch it bleed
On controversy and madness we feed
It's a rush you can't deny
Let's get high
Politician that claims to be the innocent
Sells you peace then defies you with his insolence
Greed and power his vices give him what he seeks
Manipulate and divide forever lead the weak
Life drags on and we watch it bleed
On controversy and madness we feed
It's a rush you can't deny
A little violence is the ultimate drug
Let's get high
You've been powerless to your vices
Self-control defies you
When nothing else quite suffices
Your demons will destroy you
Holy man portrays the face of purity
Hiding behind as shroud of vanity
Pure lust is his vice a sickness to defile
God becomes a device to hide the pedophile
Life drags on and we watch it bleed
On controversy and madness we feed
It's a rush you can't deny
A little violence is the ultimate drug
Let's get high
So fuckin' high
Let's get high
The lyrics of Slayer's song "Vices" describe the corruption and hypocrisy that exist in society, particularly in the realms of religion, politics, and personal behavior. The song condemns those who claim to be virtuous or preach righteousness, but are actually indulging in immoral or unethical behavior behind closed doors. The first verse criticizes the blind faith people put in institutions like religion, which can be used to justify tyranny and oppression, and the irony of this situation is highlighted. The second verse takes aim at politicians who claim to be working for the common good, but actually serve their own selfish interests.
The chorus emphasizes the addictive nature of controversy and violence, likening it to a drug that people are unable to resist. The third verse deals with the issue of sexual abuse by religious leaders, portraying them as hypocrites who use their positions of power to prey on vulnerable people. The final chorus repeats the call to get high on violence, perhaps underscoring the futility of trying to break free from the cycle of power and corrupted morality.
Overall, the song expresses feelings of disillusionment and anger towards those who abuse their positions of authority and trust. It suggests that the pursuit of power and pleasure can lead people down a destructive path, and that institutions which claim to provide moral guidance often conceal darker motivations.
Line by Line Meaning
Stop and think of society's impotence
Reflect on society's lack of power and effectiveness
And the reason behind its incompetence
Consider the cause of its failure
Faith in God is the vice, bring on the tyranny
Belief in God is the problem, leading to oppressive rule
Won't be long 'til you find the real irony
The true paradox will soon become evident
Life drags on and we watch it bleed
Life continues on painfully and we passively observe
On controversy and madness we feed
We consume conflict and chaos
It's a rush you can't deny
It's an exhilarating feeling that cannot be ignored
A little violence is the ultimate drug
A small amount of aggression is the most addictive thing
Let's get high
Let's indulge in it
Politician that claims to be the innocent
A leader who proclaims their purity
Sells you peace then defies you with his insolence
Offers calm, but then behaves rudely towards you
Greed and power his vices give him what he seeks
He craves and attains wealth and authority
Manipulate and divide forever lead the weak
Control and separate those who are vulnerable
You've been powerless to your vices
You've been unable to control your bad habits
Self-control defies you
You struggle to restrain yourself
When nothing else quite suffices
When other methods haven't worked well enough
Your demons will destroy you
Your inner struggles will eventually cause your downfall
Holy man portrays the face of purity
Religious figure appears to be morally upright
Hiding behind as shroud of vanity
Disguising their true nature with a façade of self-importance
Pure lust is his vice a sickness to defile
His immoral desires lead to corruption
God becomes a device to hide the pedophile
Religion is a tool to conceal a child abuser
So fuckin' high
Extremely intoxicated
Let's get high
Let's indulge in our addictions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JEFF HANNEMAN, KERRY KING, TOMAS E. ARAYA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind