 In the 1973 film The Exorcist , a tape of noises from the possessed victim was discovered to contain a message when the tape was played backwards . This scene might have inspired subsequent copycat musical effects . Although the Satanic backmasking controversy involved mainly classic rock songs , whose authors denied any intent to promote Satanism , backmasking has been used by heavy metal bands to deliberately insert messages in their lyrics or imagery . Bands have utilized Satanic imagery for commercial reasons . For example , thrash metal band Slayer included at the start of the band 's 1985 album Hell Awaits a deep backmasked voice chanting " Join Us " over and over . ( listen ) . However , Slayer vocalist Tom Araya states that the band 's use of Satanic imagery was " solely for effect " . Cradle of Filth , another band that has employed Satanic imagery , released a song entitled " Dinner at Deviant 's Palace " , consisting almost entirely of unusual sounds and a reversed reading of the Lord 's Prayer ( a backwards reading of the Lord 's Prayer is reportedly a major part of the Black Mass ) . Seattle @-@ based grunge band Soundgarden parodied the phenomenon of Satanic backmasking on their 1989 album Ultramega OK . When played backwards , the songs " 665 " and " 667 " reveal a song about Santa Claus . Marilyn Manson used this technique . For example , in the beginning of his song " Tourniquet " when played backwards , his voice is heard saying " This is my lowest point of vulnerability " as explained in his book The Long Hard Road Out of Hell . 
