Shadows of Slaughter: A Warning Against the Darkness | Behind The Crooked Cross | Slayer

Behind The Crooked Cross, an iconic song by thrash metal legends Slayer, is a powerful indictment of Nazi ideology and the atrocities committed during World War II. Released in 1985 on their album Reign in Blood, this track is widely regarded as one of the band's most intense and aggressive songs.

The lyrics of Behind The Crooked Cross are a scathing critique of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime, with vocalist Tom Araya delivering a blistering vocal performance that conveys his disgust and outrage at the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis. The song's title refers to the swastika, or crooked cross, which was adopted as a symbol of the Nazi Party.

Throughout the song, Slayer's lyrics are laced with vivid imagery and graphic descriptions of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, including gas chambers, concentration camps, and mass killings. The band's intention is clear: they want to remind listeners of the dark history that led to these horrors and the importance of never forgetting the victims.

Musically, Behind The Crooked Cross is a relentless onslaught of aggressive riffing, pounding drums, and pummeling bass lines. The song features some of Slayer's most technically impressive work, with guitarist Kerry King delivering a blistering solo in the track's closing moments.

Despite being released over three decades ago, Behind The Crooked Cross remains an important and powerful statement against racism, anti-Semitism, and hatred. It serves as a reminder that even the darkest episodes in human history can never be forgotten or excused, and that we must always stand up to these forces of evil.