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lead guitar from “raining blood” by slayer | ToneDB

raining blood

slayer

lead guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Aggressive and sharp thrash metal lead guitar tone, with a cutting high-end and saturated distortion, perfect for fast riffs and solos.

Gear

B.C. Richinstrument
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Marshall JCM800amp
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Shure SM57microphone
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Boss HM-2 Heavy Metalprocessing
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The Story

Kerry King's lead guitar tone on "Raining Blood" was built around a B.C. Rich guitar through a Marshall JCM800 amplifier, with a Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal pedal providing additional saturation and midrange scooping. The track was recorded for Slayer's 1986 album "Reign in Blood," likely with close-miked amplifiers to capture the tight, aggressive sound that became synonymous with thrash metal.

Signal Chain

Instrument: B.C. Rich

Amp: Marshall JCM800

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a B.C. Rich guitar and dial in a high-gain tone on a Marshall JCM800 amp.
  • Use a Shure SM57 microphone close to the speaker cone for a focused sound.
  • Add a Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal pedal and adjust the EQ to scoop out some of the mids and boost the high-end for that signature Slayer tone.
  • Experiment with different gain settings on both the amp and the pedal to find the right balance of distortion and clarity.

Original Gear

  • B.C. Rich(guitar)
  • Marshall JCM800(amp)
  • Shure SM57(mic)
  • Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Marshall DSL40CR$600-$700

Alternative to: Marshall JCM800

Provides similar EL34 tube saturation and midrange character as the JCM800, with master volume for bedroom practice

ReverbSweetwater
Boss HM-2W Waza Craft Heavy Metal$180-$200

Alternative to: Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal

Updated version of the exact pedal used, with vintage and modern voicing options for that signature mid-scooped chainsaw tone

ReverbSweetwater
B.C. Rich Warlock Bronze Series$400-$500

Alternative to: B.C. Rich guitar

Modern B.C. Rich with similar pickup configuration and aggressive aesthetics, more affordable than vintage models

ReverbSweetwater
Neural DSP Archetype Nolly$100-$120

Alternative to: Marshall JCM800

High-gain amp modeling plugin that can recreate JCM800-style tones with built-in HM-2 style EQ options

ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57

Same microphone model still in production, industry standard for close-miking guitar amplifiers

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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