Wikipedia:Today's featured article/October 7, 2016
"Angel of Death" is the opening track on thrash metal band Slayer's album Reign in Blood, released on October 7, 1986. Written by guitarist Jeff Hanneman (pictured) and produced by Rick Rubin, it is by far the longest track on the album at 4 minutes and 51 seconds, and features prominent verses and choruses, unlike the other tracks. The lyrics describe sadistic abuse by the Nazi physician Josef Mengele, who conducted human experiments at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. Despite accusations that the lyrics reflect Nazi sympathizing and racism, which the band vigorously denied, the song has been highly influential in the development of both thrash and speed metal. Although it did not chart, it has been praised by critics, and appears on all of Slayer's live albums. AllMusic's Steve Huey described it as a classic and the album as "the pinnacle of speed metal". One of its riffs was sampled by Public Enemy in their 1988 song "She Watch Channel Zero?!" (Full article...)