ARTIST: Slayer
ALBUM: World Painted Blood
LABEL: American Recordings/Sony Music
RELEASE DATE: November 3, 2009
Metalheads Rejoice – Slayer is Back!
Photo by Mark Seliger
Written by Daniel Richter
When I first turned this album on I immediately started a circle pit in my apartment. Now my roommate has a black eye and I have a ringing in my ears. Slayer’s 10th full length album, World Painted Blood, was released on November 3rd, 2009. It started its first week at the #12 spot on the Billboard 200, and earned a Grammy nomination of best metal performance for the single “Hate Worldwide”.
To be honest, I had never heard a Slayer song before I got World Painted Blood. Of course I had heard of them; but I never really listened to them. I was pleasantly surprised by what came charging out of my speakers. The first thing that caught my attention was the speed metal guitar with seemingly impossible solos. This album was right away heavier than anything else in my music collection. The double bass pulsating out of Dave Lombardo’s drum kit sets the tempo and energy level for this album on overdrive. Lombardo keeps everything running smoothly, without ever over playing, or slowing down. Once I wiped away the blood from my ears, I played the album a second time; and this time I was blown away by what Tom Araya had to say.
World Painted Blood is the first Slayer album where of the lyrics were written in the studio. It is easy to tell that these lyrics were thought out. Slayer’s anger and spite have direction and get the point across brilliantly. World Painted Blood is aggressive, hateful, and all together pissed off. With that said, Slayer isn’t mad just to sell records, they are furious at brutal injustices, religious fanatics, crooked politics, and brainless people. The lyrics are shouted with a certain swagger that fits the album’s overall groove.
With World Painted Blood, Slayer proves yet again that they are not thrash metal pioneers, they are thrash metal. This album smashes the gas pedal to the floor, and doesn’t let up for nearly forty minutes. Slayer has created a brutal sound that has a beautiful melody. This album has become a collection of all things Slayer so far. Araya spews forth angst and violence with intelligence and poise. Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, along with Araya, all collaborate to write the lyrics. Hannaman and King are both responsible for the wildly chaotic guitars. Both Hanneman and King were ranked #10 on Guitar World’s “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time”.
There have been talks about Slayer splitting up after this album, because it is the last recording in their contract. Araya proposed that he could not see his musical career carrying on as he got older. King, however, is optimistic that the band will stay together for at least one more Slayer album.
After getting my first taste of Slayer with World Painted Blood, I will be scowering record stores for more Slayer releases. World Painted Blood is an excellent album that combines death, hate, and gore, with wailing solos, heavy riffs, and pounding drums.