Seasons in the Abyss

Slayer, 1990, from Seasons in the Abyss. Solo by Jeff Hanneman, Kerry King.

A slower, atmospheric Slayer track where the solos have more room to breathe.

Seasons in the Abyss is slower and more atmospheric than most Slayer songs, and that gives the solos room to breathe. After a moody, brooding intro, Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King trade leads that are still chaotic and whammy-heavy but more spacious, letting notes ring and dive rather than simply blasting through. The slower tempo makes the solos feel eerie and unsettling instead of purely frantic. The song showed that Slayer could create dread through atmosphere as well as speed. Listen for the contrast between the two guitarists' approaches, and notice how the slower pace lets the whammy dives and screams stretch out, adding to the song's dark mood.

Seasons in the Abyss by Slayer is featured in our Thrash (#20) list. The solo is played by Jeff Hanneman, Kerry King and the song was released in 1990.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Thrash Guitar Solos — #20
• The Best Slayer Guitar Solos — #4

Sources

• WatchMojo: Top 10 Heavy Metal Guitar Solos — #8
• DigitalDreamDoor: 200 Greatest Metal Guitar Solos — #109