"Sex. Murder. Art." by Slayer

When people talk of Def Jam Recordings, they mention LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Kanye West, and Logic. They speak of one the most influential Rap and Hip-Hop labels in history. But back in 1986, Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons signed a hard-working metal band from Huntington Park, California. This band would go on to release two certified “gold” albums for Def Jam before moving on to Rubin’s Def American and American Recordings. They would also become one of the founders of thrash metal, as well as one of the most controversial bands for their use of Satanism and anti-religious imagery.

"Sex. Murder. Art." is the second track off their 1994 album Divine Intervention, and a prime example of this imagery. It’s a song written from the perspective of a serial killer, and laced with extremely disturbing lyrics. It is, however, a technical masterpiece, and while their thrash metal peers softened (sorry Metallica), Slayer was looking to play faster and harder. It was also the first album to feature Paul Bostaph, who masterfully replaced the legendary Dave Lombardo on drums.
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For over thirty-six years, with little compromise, Slayer has continued to record and release profound and unyielding thrash metal. They have endured several lineup changes and attacks from the PMRC, tip-toeing the line between elicit social commentary, creativity, and controversy.