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Slayer: World painted blood

26/11/09 || Euthanatos

PLAY SLAYER. Yes, I am one of those idiotic people that yell that. Slayer, to me, is the most awesome thrash metal force in the history of man. Alas, as man is not perfect, what he makes fails to be perfect also. Slayer is not perfect. Consider the Paul Bostaph era. I do not own any Paul Bostaph-era Slayer records, even though Slayer is one of my favorite bands. Nothing against Bostaph at all, killer drummer. Everything against “Diabolous in Musica”, “God Hates Us All”, and yes, even “Divine Intervention”. I don’t particularly care for those albums at all, although the last two have their moments. So was I happy when Dave Lombardo came back to the fold and the band released “Christ Illusion”? You bet. I really liked that album, despite some people frowning upon it. Now, oddly enough, everyone is swinging from Slayer’s balls because of “World Painted Blood”. Me? I think it’s the biggest disappointment of the year.

This album isn’t atrocious, though. It’s okay. But that’s it. Okay. Are you happy with an okay Slayer record? Yeah, me neither.

It starts off with the title-track, which is uninspired, and features Tom Araya doing some spoken parts. Yes, I get it, Tom, you’re old, you’re throat is constantly shit, but I still can’t stand these spoken bits. Particularly when the song sucks. Please stop.

“Unit 731” comes next, and it’s one of the best efforts on the album. It’s fast, and that’s the very least you want from Slayer, but it’s not particularly memorable. It’s pretty “Undisputed Attitude”, with its hardcore vibe and speed. Forgettable solos, but that’s like saying Creed has forgettable songs.

“Snuff” could very well be a continuation of “Unit 731”. It’s fast, but the vocals are mid-paced and at this point in time, more favorable for Tom’s screams. Perhaps this would be a good time to mention how atrocious the production is. Hey, you know “Death Magnetic” from Metallica? Well, that killer combo of Rick Rubin and Greg Fidelman is responsible for this one yet again, and the thing sounds fucking terrible. Seriously, the production is heinous. It’s stale, sounds like fucking mono, hello cassette era, we’re back in business! Fuck you, assholes, you’re rich as fuck, put some fucking effort into it.

“Beauty Through Order”, slow, “Seasons”-era like start, but things continue slow, and not in a good way, only about half-way through does the speed pick up for the solo. Some nice moments, but ultimately uninspired as well. Pass.

“Hate Worldwide” was one of the singles we got to listen prior to an official release, and it had my hopes up, as this is a really good song. Fast-paced, pissed-off, Kerry King may be a dick when he runs his mouth in interviews, but the man is Slayer, whether you liked that fact or not. His songs were the best (actually, the only good ones) in “Christ Illusion”, and that remains the same on “World Painted Blood”.

“Public Display of Dismemberment” is also a nice, violent track, not as fast, but pretty brutal nonetheless, made a lot lighter by the shitty production, which is a shame.

And then comes “The Human Strain”. I don’t know what’s up Jeff Hanneman’s ass these days, all I can tell you is that on the previous album it was “Eyes of the Insane”, and now “The Human Strain” comes out of his ass. Yes, his ass, because there’s no other place shit comes from, but one’s ass. All I have to say for this song is that it features Tom Araya actually singing. Yeah, you be the judge of how much you like that.

And while “Americon” isn’t as terrible, it’s still a pretty shitty song all the same. Has some nice yelling from Tom and some inventive guitars from King, but that’s it. Too much speaking and not enough screaming from Tom again.

Finally, the best song on this album, another one we got to listen ages ago, “Psychopathy Red”. This song is downright furious in its speed and venom, I fucking love every second of it, shame it’s the shortest track on the album. Tom Araya’s screaming goes into a whole other level at the end, dropping my jaw accordingly. Why couldn’t the entire album be this good?

“World Painted Blood” finishes up with a laughable song, “Playing With Dolls”, and an okay one “Not of This God”. What does that leave us with?

Well, to summarize, that leaves us with 4 average songs, 2 really good songs and a whole lot of trash. And you’re telling me this is Slayer’s best album since “Seasons in the Abyss”? Fuck you. Actually, that makes sense if you didn’t like “Christ Illusion”, but that’s not saying much, is it? “Death Magnetic” is Metallica’s best album since the self-titled. Does that make it good? Yeah, I thought so.

Bottom line, this is the worst album of Slayer’s discography with Lombardo at the drums. It’s not their worst album ever, but it’s a step down from “Christ Illusion”, and that, to me, is a painful sign of the times. Tom is always talking about how his body and his vocal chords can’t take it anymore, and how uninterested he is by the music scene, and well, maybe you’re right, Tom, maybe it is time to call it a day. God knows, you’ve earned it more than anyone else, screaming your lungs like a maniac for almost 30 years.

Initially, I though this album would be a “grower”. You know the more I listened to it, the more I’d come to like it. Yeah, that didn’t happen at all. Quite the contrary.

Still, I’d love it if Slayer went out with a bang. With a really savage, no-holds-barred thrash metal epic, something dirty and furious that would leave us with the fresh taste of blood in our mouths. Sadly, no, this isn’t it. I’m betting they still have one album left in their tank; whether it’ll be a new “Reign in Blood”, “Seasons in the Abyss” or “World Painted Blood” remains to be seen.

The cover: That depends on which one we’re talking about. There’s the really lame one, which is the Slayer name on a red world map, and there’s the really cool one, which is the world map separated in 4 ways.

5,5

Information
Released: 2009
Label: American
Website: www.slayer.net
Band
Tom Araya: vocals, bass
Jeff Hanneman: guitars
Kerry King: guitars
Dave Lombardo: drums

Tracklist
01. World Painted Blood
02. Unit 731
03. Snuff
04. Beauty Through Order
05. Hate Worldwide
06. Public Display of Dismemberment
07. Human Strain
08. Americon
09. Psychopathy Red
10. Playing With Dolls
11. Not of This God

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