Kerry King has identified Slayer’s “Dittohead” as the most challenging song he’s ever played, citing its incredible speed. He also shared his favorite riffs from his late bandmate, Jeff Hanneman.
In the realm of thrash metal, which is known for its rapid guitar runs, Slayer has consistently pushed the boundaries of speed. This was evident when Rick Rubin, during the production of the band’s 1986 album Reign In Blood, recognized that conventional methods for producing hard rock and heavy metal simply wouldn’t suffice.
Despite the success of Slayer’s recent one-off reunion, which demonstrated that the surviving members can still deliver their classic tracks with intensity, some songs from their catalog remain daunting. In a recent fan Q&A with Metal Hammer, King was asked about the hardest song he’s ever played. He replied, “I could go a number of ways with that [question], but I’ll say ‘Dittohead’ for the sheer speed of it. That’s probably our fastest song, and it’s not one I’m looking to play live any time soon!”
While songs from Slayer’s 1994 album Divine Intervention may suggest that the band aimed to break records for speed, King believes there is such a thing as excessive velocity. Earlier this year, while discussing his solo debut, From Hell I Rise, he remarked, “There’s a fine line between playing fast and too fast. Because, if you get too fast and don’t let the riff breathe, the riff gets lost in the song. That’s an art we’ve discovered over time, but if you speed up anything, you add the punk element — which Jeff [Hanneman] was always into before any of us were. Then it blossomed in me from Jeff.”
During the Metal Hammer Q&A, King was also prompted to name a favorite riff composed by Hanneman. He stated, “That’s difficult. I have to say ‘Raining Blood’ [from 1986’s Reign In Blood]. It’s not just one riff in that song, but a whole showcase. If you pushed me, I’d say the intro too, as people still sing along to that guitar line.”
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