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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. World Painted Blood |
| 2. Unit 731 |
| 3. Snuff |
| 4. Beauty Through Order |
| 5. Hate Worldwide |
| 6. Public Display Of Dismemberment |
| 7. Human Strain |
| 8. Americon |
| 9. Psychopathy Red |
| 10. Playing With Dolls |
| 11. Not Of This God |
Product Description
Review
With original drummer Dave Lombardo returning to the fold, 2006’s Christ Illusion was supposed to be Slayer’s big comeback album. It wasn’t. Although a major improvement on 2001’s pedestrian God Hates Us All, Christ Illusion largely failed to reignite the chemistry between the four original members. Just three years later – fast work by Slayer standards – is World Painted Blood finally the album they’ve been striving to make for the last 20 years?
Having done much to define thrash metal in the 1980s and been responsible for what is arguably the genre’s definitive text – 1986’s Reign in Blood – Slayer have never been let off the hook. Each and every subsequent release has been subject to intense scrutiny from all quarters, and as a result the band has, at times, seemed genuinely uncertain what to do next – witness 1998’s dire Diabolus in Musica.
Such microscopic levels of surveillance were less of a problem during 1987-92, when they enjoyed enormous critical and commercial success. However, come the reign of grunge and then nu-metal, Slayer looked vulnerable as they scrabbled around for scraps of artistic relevance. It’s telling that they spent much of the 90s touring their legendary live show, which has always leaned heavily on their early material.
This, studio album number ten, is their best in years. Many pundits lazily passed similar judgements on the band’s weak later efforts, but you can take this one to the bank. It’s better than Christ Illusion and everything else back to 1994’s Divine Intervention.
Opening with the blistering title track, this is Slayer stripped back, largely free from fat and unnecessary fuss. Few of the songs command the attention with the insistence of old, but quite frankly we were beginning to wonder if they still had an album like this left in them. Although unafraid to experiment with atmosphere (Human Strain) and explore sombre moods (Beauty Through Order, Playing With Dolls), it’s the sound of the band rediscovering their truly aggressive streak. Frontman Tom Araya does his throat untold damage with a performance worthy of a guy half his age, while the dangerously deranged soloing of guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King trumps any individual track as the album’s clear highlight.
Enter expecting a return to the glory days and you’ll leave disappointed. Open your mind to just how disturbing materially-comfortable 40-somethings with responsibilities can be and you’ll enjoy a deliciously wicked ride. --Greg Moffitt
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Things you need to know about me. I worship Slayer from Reign in Blood to Seasons in the Abyss. Since then they have made the odd good track but nothing really has inspired me. Even last years Christ Illusion with DL back behind the drums I found it boring and I lost interest very quickly. I don't just like metal and it never bothered me too much that Slayer lost their way. I am not a blinkered Slayer fan who just likes metal so therefore is giving out 5 gold stars just because they turn up to the studio.
Things you need to know about this album. Araya gives the best vocal performance since Seasons and this is why WPB is easily their best since then, one of the main reasons why I loved Slayer was Arayas voice, it's back and I love it! Hanneman makes an effort to write excellent songs, this in turn makes Kerry King write better songs as he needs to up his game. Araya also has song writing credits, and I believe this is why this album is top-notch. Also a lot of songs they work on together just like they did on SITA. Every song maybe the age old Slayer material but here it is attacked with vitality and energy.
The production! This is under a lot of scrutiny since Mr Fieldman produced Death Magnetic. For me Death Magnetics production was inferior and I maybe no audiophille but I didn't like it at all. Funny that when I played this album (vinyl version) this was forefront of my mind. And to be honest I think I gave it too much thought which did cloud my judgment on the first few listens. Don't worry about it. Yes I have to turn my bass dial up to thicken the sound but after a few listens you start to appreciate this album for what it is. And that is Slayer on top-form. And that ladies and gentlemen is a reason to celebrate.
Things you need to know about this album. Araya gives the best vocal performance since Seasons and this is why WPB is easily their best since then, one of the main reasons why I loved Slayer was Arayas voice, it's back and I love it! Hanneman makes an effort to write excellent songs, this in turn makes Kerry King write better songs as he needs to up his game. Araya also has song writing credits, and I believe this is why this album is top-notch. Also a lot of songs they work on together just like they did on SITA. Every song maybe the age old Slayer material but here it is attacked with vitality and energy.
The production! This is under a lot of scrutiny since Mr Fieldman produced Death Magnetic. For me Death Magnetics production was inferior and I maybe no audiophille but I didn't like it at all. Funny that when I played this album (vinyl version) this was forefront of my mind. And to be honest I think I gave it too much thought which did cloud my judgment on the first few listens. Don't worry about it. Yes I have to turn my bass dial up to thicken the sound but after a few listens you start to appreciate this album for what it is. And that is Slayer on top-form. And that ladies and gentlemen is a reason to celebrate.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Ok, Ignore the negative reviews. This is Slayer's best album in years, I realise that's a cliche but they have really made the effort this time.
Their recent output hasn't been the best, God Hates us all had a few moments, Christ Illusion was pure dirt and it's fair to say my expectations for this were quite low. So it was a pleasant surprise to find myself being blown away by the album; and it hasn't left the CD player since.
The album opens with the title track; very atmospheric introduction complete with military style snare drumming (Lombardos performance throughout the album is phenomenal)before heading into more familiar thrash metal territory, however the difference here is there are a couple of quite effective groove sections before heading into a spoken word mid section, the track then picks up for the finale by revisiting the verses only this time 10 times as intense. A truely epic track at almost 6 minutes.
Unit 731 - Incredibaly fast + agressive track dealing with some scary subject matter. Musically this reminds me of some of the more punkish elements of the Reign in Blood album, the track is short and relentless.
Snuff - Another fast numbner, opening with a string of solos recalling Captor Of Sin, Verse is mid paced, along the lines of Epidemic, before the song opens up with some fantastic riffing for the chorus.
Beauty through order - this is Slayer at their most atmospheric, think Divine Intervention, Dead Skin Mask, Spill the Blood. Great clean singing from Araya and there are numerous shifts in mood and tempo in this one. I hope they make a video for this.
Hate Worldwide - Another Kerry King effort, this one recalls Black Magic and deals with familiar satanic themes. King has come in for criticism over his songwriting abilities over the years but this must rate as one of his best, the lyrics are a little silly but there is no denying the savagry of the track and the vocal delivery!
Public Display of Dismemberment - Another fast one, awesome breakdown at the 1.
50 mark! Enough said.
Human Strain - Mines territory similar to Beauty Through Order, great crunchy chorus and a very eerie mid sectionconsidering the subject matter.
Americon - One of the weakest tracks on the album, it's in similar vein to Cast Down from "God Hates Us All" musically, however it's nowhere near as bad and at less than three minutes it doesn't outstay its welcome.
Psycopathy Red - Everyones's heard this one by now, absolutely ferocious track, strongly recalling Spirit In Black and the Reign In Blood era but without sounding like a rehash.
Playing with Dolls - Another very atmospheric/eerie track, Araya again adopting clean sung vocals, very memorable chourus and deeply distrubing lyrics.
Not Of This God - The albums other filler, they could have finished out the album with Playing With Dolls, there is nothing wrong with this track per say, but it would probably be more at home on Christ Illusion.
Overall a welcome return to form, the production is awesome too. Very natural sounding. If you like Slayer this will blow you away, if not I doubt it's going to change your opinion.
Their recent output hasn't been the best, God Hates us all had a few moments, Christ Illusion was pure dirt and it's fair to say my expectations for this were quite low. So it was a pleasant surprise to find myself being blown away by the album; and it hasn't left the CD player since.
The album opens with the title track; very atmospheric introduction complete with military style snare drumming (Lombardos performance throughout the album is phenomenal)before heading into more familiar thrash metal territory, however the difference here is there are a couple of quite effective groove sections before heading into a spoken word mid section, the track then picks up for the finale by revisiting the verses only this time 10 times as intense. A truely epic track at almost 6 minutes.
Unit 731 - Incredibaly fast + agressive track dealing with some scary subject matter. Musically this reminds me of some of the more punkish elements of the Reign in Blood album, the track is short and relentless.
Snuff - Another fast numbner, opening with a string of solos recalling Captor Of Sin, Verse is mid paced, along the lines of Epidemic, before the song opens up with some fantastic riffing for the chorus.
Beauty through order - this is Slayer at their most atmospheric, think Divine Intervention, Dead Skin Mask, Spill the Blood. Great clean singing from Araya and there are numerous shifts in mood and tempo in this one. I hope they make a video for this.
Hate Worldwide - Another Kerry King effort, this one recalls Black Magic and deals with familiar satanic themes. King has come in for criticism over his songwriting abilities over the years but this must rate as one of his best, the lyrics are a little silly but there is no denying the savagry of the track and the vocal delivery!
Public Display of Dismemberment - Another fast one, awesome breakdown at the 1.
50 mark! Enough said.
Human Strain - Mines territory similar to Beauty Through Order, great crunchy chorus and a very eerie mid sectionconsidering the subject matter.
Americon - One of the weakest tracks on the album, it's in similar vein to Cast Down from "God Hates Us All" musically, however it's nowhere near as bad and at less than three minutes it doesn't outstay its welcome.
Psycopathy Red - Everyones's heard this one by now, absolutely ferocious track, strongly recalling Spirit In Black and the Reign In Blood era but without sounding like a rehash.
Playing with Dolls - Another very atmospheric/eerie track, Araya again adopting clean sung vocals, very memorable chourus and deeply distrubing lyrics.
Not Of This God - The albums other filler, they could have finished out the album with Playing With Dolls, there is nothing wrong with this track per say, but it would probably be more at home on Christ Illusion.
Overall a welcome return to form, the production is awesome too. Very natural sounding. If you like Slayer this will blow you away, if not I doubt it's going to change your opinion.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I ask this question because I want to like this album more than I actually do.Slayer can produce this type of stuff in their sleep and deep down inside we feel we're not hearing this great band giving us their all.With tracks like 'Psycopathy Red' and 'Hate Worldwide' we have reminders of what we expect from Slayer on form, both these tracks are instant classics. It is unfortunate then that the rest of the tracks on this disc seem to pale in comparison. Think of how much you loved 'War Ensemble' when you heard it on 'Seasons...' and then wished the rest of the album was as good as that track. Well that is how this feels, if the rest of the album had the energy and sheer "Slayer-ness" of 'Psycopathy..' and 'Hate..' we would have had a true Slayer classic on our hands.
So why four stars if I'm so dissapointed? The answer is that with the exception of 'Americon' there is nothing poor on this disc so the rating reflects the quality of what is on offer. The dissapointment is that once again greatness should have been in the offing but not delivered. THIS BAND DID NOT PEAK IN 1986 BUT WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE ALBUM THAT PROVES IT.
So why four stars if I'm so dissapointed? The answer is that with the exception of 'Americon' there is nothing poor on this disc so the rating reflects the quality of what is on offer. The dissapointment is that once again greatness should have been in the offing but not delivered. THIS BAND DID NOT PEAK IN 1986 BUT WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE ALBUM THAT PROVES IT.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Slayer - World Painted Blood
World Painted Blood is the 11th studio album from the American Thrash Metal band Slayer; released in late 2009 this was the second studio album recorded after the band reunited... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Gentlegiantprog
Brutal
Brilliant.. brutal... Slayer is as Slayer does and this is a fine example of the music created by this outstanding group of Musicians.
Published 12 months ago by TJREES
I like thrash again after 20 years away...
Superb. Sad but true - I listen to it on average 3 times a day when I have my iPod on at work.
Published 18 months ago by JuJuOrange
worth a punt
There are different sides to this album , on one hand its groovier than they are used to being which i like and there are actually chorus' that are good and strong but there is... Read more
Published 20 months ago by sean paul mccann
Colour me Blood
A welcome, if not wholly satisfying, return to the fold, World Painted Blood finds Slayer getting back to what they used to do best. Read more
Published 22 months ago by ratmonkey
Reign in Blood, step aside
COPIED FROM MY PREVIOUSLY POSTED REVIEW
Fantastic album. Just amazing.
I've owned the deluxe edition for a good few weeks now and I must have listened to it through... Read more
Fantastic album. Just amazing.
I've owned the deluxe edition for a good few weeks now and I must have listened to it through... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Max Watt
Slayer's 'World Painted Blood'
Yet more masterly heavy metal from the best metal band in the world ever. Best album since 'The Blackening', and Slayer's best since 'Divine Intervention'!
Published on 8 May 2010 by Gavin Appleby
Not the greatest
I was waiting in anticipation for this one, despite being largely underwhelmed by the previous two Slayer efforts. Yet once again I found myself left slightly cold by the album. Read more
Published on 28 April 2010 by A. Kennedy
Satan Laughs As You Buy This Lame CD
This is the worst record Slayer has ever released: 'World Painted Blood' makes 1998's nu-metal 'Diabolus in Musica' sound like a classic Slayer album. Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2010 by Dara Giolla Críosd
Brutal!!
This is only my second Slayer album, I brought "Christ Illusion" last year and loved it. This is every bit as good and more!! Slayer at thier best.
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by Andrew Thomson
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