Jihad (song)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Jeff Hanneman, Tom Araya, Kerry King, Dave Lombardo |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Thrash metal music |
Jihad is a track by the American thrash metal group Slayer, featured on their 2006 release Christ Illusion. The song was chiefly composed by guitarist Jeff Hanneman, with lyrics co-written by vocalist Tom Araya. It portrays the viewpoint of a terrorist involved in the September 11, 2001 attacks, concluding with a spoken excerpt from a letter left by Mohamed Atta, who was identified by the FBI as the principal suicide hijacker aboard the first aircraft to strike the World Trade Center.
The composition received a polarized response from critics, largely due to its provocative theme, and drew comparisons to Slayer’s 1986 piece "Angel of Death", another Hanneman creation that similarly ignited controversy. The Christian organization "Catholic Secular Forum" based in Mumbai opposed the lyrics of "Jihad," leading EMI India to withdraw Christ Illusion from that market without intentions for re-release. During Slayer’s debut on US network television on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in January 2007, the song was censored, with ABC-TV broadcasting only its initial minute.
Origins
Primarily composed by guitarist Jeff Hanneman and lyrically developed with vocalist Tom Araya, "Jihad" continues Slayer’s tradition of tackling contentious subject matter. Hanneman had earlier addressed Nazi war crimes in songs like "Angel of Death" and "SS-3," while Araya’s lyrical focus included serial killers in tracks such as "213" and "Dead Skin Mask." This song adopts the perspective of an individual involved in the 9/11 attacks, exploring their mindset.[1] The piece culminates with spoken words derived from a letter left by Mohamed Atta, identified by the FBI as the lead hijacker of American Airlines Flight 11.
Guitarist Kerry King defends "Jihad" as offering the most compelling viewpoint on Christ Illusion, stressing that Slayer does not endorse terrorist beliefs but instead provides an alternative narrative amidst extensive media coverage. King remarked: "We're Slayer, we have to be different."[1]
Comparable narrative techniques have been employed in other works, such as Steve Earle's "John Walker's Blues," which is written from the perspective of Taliban member John Walker Lindh. King anticipated similar backlash for "Jihad," observing that many form opinions without thoroughly engaging with the lyrics.[1]
Musical structure
Clocking in at 3 minutes and 31 seconds, "Jihad" is set in standard 4/4 time.[2] The introduction features Jeff Hanneman playing a rapid vamp while Dave Lombardo keeps steady hi-hat patterns.[2] The song incorporates swift, jagged guitar riffs reminiscent of the breakdown section in "Angel of Death."[3][4] These riffs decelerate briefly before accelerating again alongside Lombardo's vigorous drumming.[5]
Some reviewers criticized the track for being musically repetitive relative to other pieces on Christ Illusion, noting recurring similarities in riff patterns and arrangements.[6][7]
Reception and critique
Prior to the August 2006 launch of Christ Illusion, "Jihad" was made available for streaming alongside "Eyes of the Insane" and "Cult." Critical responses varied considerably. Don Kaye from Blabbermouth.net found "Jihad" to be unoriginal and awkward in execution. Meanwhile, Ben Ratliff of The New York Times labeled it as "predictably tough stuff," though he noted it lacked the nuanced reasoning found in other accounts concerning Mohamed Atta. Peter Atkinson at KNAC.com criticized the inclusion of Atta’s letter near the song’s conclusion, viewing it as exploitative instead of insightful.
On the other hand, Thom Jurek of AllMusic commended the track for its intricate rhythmic structure, and Marc Savlov from the Austin Chronicle praised Araya’s authentic delivery as a suicide bomber.
Kerry King expressed a preference for "Jihad" over the Grammy-winning "Eyes of the Insane," regarding it as a more potent example of Slayer's contributions on the album. He also appreciates performing this song live due to its engaging guitar shifts and strong audience reactions.
Controversy
The provocative nature of "Jihad"'s lyrics made it one of the most contentious pieces on Christ Illusion. In May 2006, relatives of those who perished in 9/11 voiced their disapproval regarding the song's subject matter. Joseph Dias, representing Mumbai's Catholic Secular Forum, cautioned that the track might offend both Muslim communities and secular listeners alike. Following public outcry, EMI India withdrew all copies from distribution, destroying existing stock without plans for re-release. This action was motivated by objections to both the song’s lyrics and the album’s controversial cover art. Contrary to expectations, backlash within the United States remained limited; Araya suggested this was because many perceived it simply as "Slayer being Slayer."
When Slayer appeared on ABC-TV's Jimmy Kimmel Live! in January 2007, censorship by Broadcast Standards and Practices resulted in only about 60% of "Jihad"'s lyrics being broadcast. Though the band considered canceling their performance, they ultimately proceeded as scheduled.
Parallels with "Angel of Death"
| Yeah, that was blown out proportion. People thinking they know what it says without really reading it. And that will happen with every record for everybody, because people like to take an opinion without being informed about anything. It's easier to just shoot your mouth off because the more noise you make the less basis in fact your argument has to be because people are too dumb to recognize the difference. | ||
-Kerry King, KNAC.com
| ||
Critics have often likened "Jihad" to "Angel of Death," another track penned by Hanneman in 1986 inspired by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. King acknowledged these concerns but regarded them as overstated, emphasizing that neither composition endorses its subject matter; rather, both serve as narrative accounts presented in a documentary style.
Personnel
- Tom Araya – bass guitar, lead vocals
- Kerry King – guitar
- Jeff Hanneman – guitar
- Dave Lombardo – drums
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