Slayer: World Painted Blood
by Duprie Casey 02/02/2010
Aside from a few minor variations to the template, Slayer
has been thrash's most furious proponent. Out of the "Big Four" -- including
peers Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax -- the band has been by far the most the
consistent, even when it's meant sacrificing commercial potential. With this new
disc, it's obvious that selling out is still not a high priority for this band.
Building upon the momentum of 2006's Christ Illusion, the band's latest
slab,
World
Painted Blood manages to shake things up stylistically without straying
too far from the mix. The opening title track is a slightly mid-tempo burner
that veers into nu-metal territory in its chugging breakdown and Slipknot-esque
spoken-word interlude. The band has been duly slammed over the past decade for
its dalliance with the baggy-pants set, but on this release, the nu-metalisms
are neither overbearing nor excessive.
What we do get is more variation than on other offerings, along the lines of the
band's 1990 classic, Seasons In The Abyss. There are the requisite
ultra-fast numbers ("Unit 731," "Snuff"), some slower, sludgier ones ("Beauty
Through Order," "Playing With Dolls") and snatches of unexpected melody that add
color the proceedings. The production is dry and solidly in your face with Dave
Lombardo's drums and Tom Araya's vocals taking center stage. This approach,
while quite effective in a sonic sense, strips away any sheen that might've
otherwise added an epic quality to the proceedings. But none of that detracts
from the killer-bee solos put forth by axe handlers Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman,
even if at times, their incessant dive bombs are a tad redundant.
After two and a half decades, Slayer is still as diabolical as all hell.
World Painted Blood is proof of that and stands as a testament to the band's
unwavering commitment to its craft, however primal that may be.
(Rated 5 Stars)
