The Hub

So I've finally got around the listening to the entire album Slayer are about to release called World Painted Blood.

For the impaired, Slayer used to be one hell of a force within the metal world with their first 4 albums - Show No Mercy, Hell Awaits (their best), Reign In Blood and South Of Heaven. In between Show No Mercy and Hell Awaits, they released an excellent EP called Haunting The Chapel, which is like a preview of Hell Awaits. Why preview of Hell Awaits and not a mini-redo of Show No Mercy? Show No Mercy was more influenced by bands like Judas Priest and Venom, as opposed to in Haunting The Chapel and beyond, where they developed their own unique sound, but with some Venom influences here and there.

After South Of Heaven, their material went from *bleep*ing classic to just good. Seasons Of The Abyss and Divine Intervention were enjoyable, though I must be in the minority with Divine Intervention, considering it was considered a crap album. Oh noez, no more Dave Lombardo, just some random... So? Divine Intervention was still enjoyable. The hate for Diabolicus In Musica and God Hates Us All is warranted, though; both *bleep*ing sucked! No redeeming moments, no moments in which to bask in the glory of - just shit!

Just when you thought they were dead, they released Christ Illusion, which is on par with Divine Intervention - enjoyable. Dave Lombardo came back to Slayer's sticks and apparently, it means that it's good now. It's enjoyable, but let's be honest with ourselves here. Christ Illusion and Divine Intervention were decent at best. Regardless, it's still enjoyable, and Slayer went back to kicking ass with tours enough to fill warehouses.

Unfortunately, they decided to follow it up with an exact duplicate, but with less intensity and less enjoyability factors. Meet World Painted Blood. Imagine, if you will, Christ Illusion, but with bland riffs and crap solos. The solos are, for the most part, repetitive. True that most bands can have repetitive solos, Slayer really push the envolope with this. The solos are never really any different; just the same random notes. No flow, no aesthetic value; just the two guitarists pulling off a ripper solo, adding to some of the ass kicking they've been known for. Unfortunately, the solos aren't quite that good here. Here, the solos are just solos. They've taken the flair out of their own solos, meaning you're just not pumped for them. They don't excite; they merely serve as filler. Disappointing, really, but what I'm really disappointed with are the riffs. Slayer's riffs, when it comes right down to it, are there to kick your ass and make you bang your head, make it sore. That's actually the basis for all thrash riffs, but Slayer always seemed to have create the best. I say "seemed" because these riffs suck. They're not quite as bad as those on God Hates Us All (*shudder*), but goddamn! These riffs are just boring! They don't have the same feeling that they did back in the day and with Christ Illusion. They're actually kind of sterile.

Now, is all that I've said so far true? Well, yes, TO A POINT. On it's own, the album is decent. As a modern thrash metal album, it's okay. The riffs, again, feel generic and overdone. The solos, while blistering, aren't really all that intense. The vocals are *bleep*ing garbage, but then again, after a few decades, it's expected; what, with the few years of chain smoking and screaming in bars loaded with chain smokers. It seems that the drums are the strong element, meaning that Dave is the only member who still has the chops he has decades ago. Still evokes the same emotion as his drumming did in Hell Awaits; madman-like. So yeah, as a modern thrash metal album, it's okay, if you can hear past what I've just said. However, as a Slayer album, it's weak.

So how can I recommend the album? If you're a collector of thrash metal albums, or if you really enjoy Slayer, I'd say go for it. Maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did. Hey, I was expecting top shit and it didn't deliver, so I kind of had to be harsh on it. Don't expect top of the world stuff; just expect an album that will entertain you a bit. Trust me, you'll want to if you aim to enjoy the album.