Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Best Slayer album since Seasons In The Abyss, 7 Aug 2006
Unlike "Maquando" below, I tend to review an album after actually hearing it... Musically, 'Christ Illusion' is a cross between 'God Hates Us All' and 'Seasons In The Abyss', which should excite the majority of Slayer fans. This sound is never more apparent then on opener 'Flesh Storm', which is immediately reminiscent of 'War Ensemble'. 'Catalyst' is a bludeoning three minute assault on the senses. However, it isn't until 'Skeleton Christ' that the album truly hits both it's stride and undeniable groove. One suspects that this is largely due to the welcome return of Dave Lombardo behind the drum kit (yes, the greatest metal drummer of his generation); although the fact that there isn't a bad song on the album is also a huge plus. 'Jihad' tells the story of 9/11 from the point of view of one of the terrorists without ever coming across as crass. It is also unlike any Slayer song you will have heard before. Lombardo's return coupled with Kerry King's seemingly boundless anger has galvanised Slayer, addding new impetus to their aural attack. Both 'Consfearacy' and 'Supremist' stand as testimony to this, the latter's opening riff tipping it's hat to the band's birth on 'Show No Mercy'. 'Black Serenade' is Tom Araya's obligatory serial killer/necrophilia ballad, delivered in typically unapologetic fashion. Indeed, this is the other stand out feature of 'Christ Illusion': the time and care taken over the vocals. Although the lyrics are typically standard fare (anti-religion, war, etc) they have been recorded with an unusual clarity for Slayer, and Araya's voice is more full of spite than ever.
It's difficult to know what 'Christ Illusion' will do for Slayer's popularity in the extreme music scene (it's unlikely to garner them any new, younger fans), but for many people this is the most anticipated metal album of 2006. The fact that it is the best Slayer offering for over 15 years is also likely to see it top many best of 2006 lists.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not a maturing wine, 30 Aug 2006
Standing alone it's a great album!
The riffs are catchier than ever, the production is as clean as ever, Dave Lombardo is sounding on form, all in all if I was to get a run of the mill metal fan into Slayer I would probably start them with a tune like "Jihad" or "Cult" from this album before blowing them away with "Angel of Death" or "Raining Blood" ... and this is just the catch you see!
For the metal standards today this is a great album no doubt ... but for a Slayer album it's one of their slowest, it's the catchiest (which is always worrying in my opinion 'cos you tend to get bored of it quickly! Unlike "Divine Intervention" which took me weeks to get into and now its a legend in my mind!).
I think Darklust's review below is also very honest (a little too heartless on the star front maybe!?).
So:
If you're new to slayer then this is a great place to start but it is in no way a good example of their capability!!
If you're a long term Slayer fan then your aware that only Slayer can do the Slayer sound, just don't be expecting blood raining or abyss seasoning ... why you ask? Without being heartless, look at the photo on the back of Reign in Blood then look at the photos in Christ Illusion - These guys are in there mid-forties for godsake! (or not be that the case!).
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing, 19 Aug 2006
Let's put this into context. I haven't been listening to Slayer for 5 or 6 years, I bought Hell Awaits and Reign in Blood the day RIB came out, belatedly in Europe, in early '87. These two albums represent Slayer at their awesome best. I have been a dedicated fan since and they are my favourite band ever. But... Christ Illusion, for me, is a huge disappointment. For me, the worst thing about Slayer's recent material, and that includes tracks on Divine, Diabolus, God Hates and now Christ Illusion, is the quality of their slower stuff. No one can question Slayer's power and aggression when they play fast, but, in my opinion (key thing that, it is only my opinion) their slow tracks are generally boring, plodding and worst of all, formulaic i.e. slow, plodding start, then the last minute or two are fast. Or fast, then just while we're being blasted it slows down and the track is effectively dead. They pulled it off in the earlier days (think At Dawn They Sleep, Crypts of Eternity, Post Mortem, Behind The Crooked Cross, Ghost of War - the last two being where, for me, they started to rely too much on this same-sounding formula) but the slow stuff nowadays is poor for me. They lose their power, their energy, their pure, raw aggression. Listen to Eyes of The Insane and Catatonic. Case in point. There's no need for these in Slayer's repertoire. The production is good on Christ Illusion, and the mix is ok. Tom Araya's vocals are still distinctive but his delivery just doesn't cut it. The best thing is Dave Lombardo's drumming which is worth the cost of the album alone. Hopefully next album (if there is one) they'll go back to what they do best - short, fast, brutal cuts of metal, rather than half-baked, awkward, nu-thrash, which is not becoming of such masters of the genre.
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