4 Heavy Metal Songs Inspired by Serial Killers

Metal is a genre known for lyrics that delve into dark or taboo subject matter. Fans of the genre are no strangers to songs about death, religion, war, demons, or other topics that songwriters in most other genres would shy away from. There are also plenty of metal songs that focus on the gritty, real-world violence of true crime and serial killers.

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Today, we’re going to look at three songs pulled from true crime headlines. The list contains a variety of metal sub-genres and songs about some of the most publicized and gruesome serial killer cases in modern history.

[RELATED: 4 Classic Rock Songs Based on Grisly True Crime Cases]

1. “Bloodbath in Paradise” by Ozzy Osbourne from No Rest for the Wicked (1988)

Charles Manson commanded members of his cult, the Manson Family, to commit a series of murders in the summer of 1969. The Tate-LaBianca murders have transcended the world of true crime and entered general pop culture. The murders have inspired countless songs, films, books, and other media. “Bloodbath in Paradise” from Ozzy Osbourne’s 1988 solo album No Rest for the Wicked is high on the list of metal songs inspired by this well-known true crime case.

Some have argued that “Bloodbath in Paradise” is about the Vietnam War. However, many lyrics point directly to the infamous case. The song’s lyrics reference the California sun, blood on the walls, “Charlie and the family,” and “helter skelter.” As a result, it’s almost certain that the metal legend had the country’s most infamous serial killer in mind when he recorded this song.

2. “213” by Slayer from Divine Intervention (1994)

Metal giants Slayer included this song about one of the most talked-about true crime cases in recent history–serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer–on their 1994 album Divine Intervention. While the title doesn’t jump out and scream “Hey, this song is about Dahmer!” there are plenty of references to his gruesome deeds in the brooding track. Also, 213 was Dahmer’s apartment number in Milwaukee.

Dahmer, also called the Milwaukee Monster, was a serial killer and cannibal who murdered at least 17 people between 1978 and 1991. He was convicted of 16 counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to 16 life sentences. He was beaten to death by a fellow inmate in 1994.

3. “Bind Torture Kill” by Suffocation from Suffocation (2008)

Legendary death metal band Suffocation included this song inspired by serial killer Dennis Rader on their 2008 self-titled album. Few other bands could take the first-person trip into the mind of BTK and turn it into a face-melting track that demands repeat listens.

Rader, known widely as BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) in the media, was a Kansas-based serial killer who was active between 1974 and 1991. Like many serial killers, he led a double life as a family man and active member of his community. However, his need for attention led him to write taunting letters to authorities. He was finally arrested in 2005 and sentenced to 10 consecutive life sentences.

4. “The Ballad of Leonard and Charles” by Exodus from Exhibit B: The Human Condition (2010)

Thrash metal legends Exodus opened their 2010 album with “The Ballad of Leonard and Charles,” inspired by a pair of serial killers at the center of a lesser-known true crime case. With Exhibit B: The Human Condition, the band wanted to tap into the violence that inhabits the darkest parts of humanity, and the story behind this song fits the mold perfectly.

Leonard Lake and his accomplice Charles Ng are two of the most disgusting individuals to inhabit the annals of true crime. They sexually assaulted, tortured, and murdered an estimated 25 men, women, and children in the 1980s. After being arrested on unrelated charges, Lake ended his own life with a cyanide capsule in 1985. Authorities later found evidence of the crimes and Ng’s connection to them. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection and is currently on death row in California.

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