Slayer: World Painted Blood Review

Ah yes. Time for another Slayer cd. What is it with this band lately? For a few years they had lackluster releases with a song or two that really stuck out, but the past few releases have been right up there with RIB, SOH, or SITA. The tide started to turn with God Hates Us All. Now they have another trilogy of classics. The title track to World Painted Blood is yet another Slayer anthem. There are already fans screaming the words back to the band live. Unit 731 may be one of my least favorite tracks on this cd, but even it has some great riffs that make it stand out against most of what passes for Metal nowadays. About a minute into Snuff (and again at 1:45) the band really shows why they are still the kings.

Beauty Through Order starts out with the feel of a serial killer stalking it's victim. It's slow and methodical as if the killer is more about the art of the killing than just killing for the sake of taking a life. Then about 2 minutes in his mind snaps for a few seconds, but then he regains control. While this may be one of the slower songs, I find it to be the most brutal. Instead of hitting you in the head really fast with a ballpeen hammer, the band pulls all the way back with a big heavy sledge hammer and with one swing crushes the skull of it's prey. This is what brutality is about people! Hate Worldwide is this band's idea of a love ballad I think. Yes, they pick up the pace a little, but while still giving the notes room to breathe. Public Display Of Dismemberment is my idea of a great old school thrash song. It's got all the elements evenly spread out. There is the thrash gallop, insane speed, and the slow methodical drudge. Human Strain is the kind of song where the pit gets nuts. Sure the fast songs make everything go crazy for a few seconds, but then you have this big wide open floor with 2-3 douchebags walking around in a circle. With songs like Human Strain everyone jumps in and the pit grows. This is perfect mosh pit material. Americon starts out with kind of a punk feel. Slayer has always had punk roots and here is where they show them off a little more than normal.

Now even though Psychopathy Red is fast as hell, it still has a riff underneath it that grabs a hold of you and doesn't let go. Proof that you can have speed without sacrificing depth in the song writing department. This is why Slayer are the kings. Playing With Dolls is another slow methodical masterpiece with more in common with South Of Heaven than Reign In Blood. The band ends it in that classic Slayer style with the song Not Of This God. A great end to another great album.

Song after song this band proves once again that they can beat the hell out of bands half their age. To think that this band is about nothing more than speed and brutality is missing what is so great about them. They are able to find that perfect balance that so many are incapable of pulling off or even understanding. This album has multiple layers, textures, and styles that demand repeated listens. This is a cd that you will play for decades to come. This is a cd that a year from now fans will be able to name that tune in three notes. Try that with the younger bands they call Metal now. They just can't touch what Slayer has. This is why they are kings!