Album Review: Slayer - World Painted Blood
The era of thrash has seen an outrageous turn of comebacks this past two years: Megadeth finally brought us the apocalypse it promised for decades with Endgame, Metallica resurfaced with a Guitar Hero volume in their name and the missing link between Justice and Metallica known as Death Magnetic. While Scott Ian’s infamous Anthrax sits on the back-burner for now, another “big four” club member seeks to continue its reign as Slayer presents World Painted Blood via executive producer Rick Rubin and American Recordings.
We won’t bother with a long diatribe about Rubin’s golden touch in the world of rejuvenating production tactics, because there are times when he’s a genius and times when he’s the rock world’s answer to Timbaland (plus actual imagination). In the end, Rubin attempts to be Slayer’s own personal Bob Rock, except Slayer never really needed any re-imagining to begin with. I had an extremely hard time placing World Painted Blood at first or second listen. Upon initial playing, the album felt like an amalgam of everything the band’s done correctly, plus Lombardo’s new drum kit helping to emphasize the tones in the music. On revisiting, the music felt not so much lacking as being stretched too thin — as if Rubin tried to reinvent the wheel and Slayer just rode along, content with the end result. On the whole, World Painted Blood does its job as a damn decent thrash record regardless of the Rubin “gloss or no gloss” treatment (perhaps that can be attributed to Slayer’s no-nonsense approach).
A steady climbing intro builds into World Painted Blood’s titular track, and our favorite wailer Araya goes into full form. Sadly, his age is starting to show, particularly during the chorus, “World painted blood/No sanctuary”. Lombardo’s crashes shine right before the bridge, while his basses deal out tremendous power; this reconstitutes as he hits full speed into the short Reign backpedaling “Unit 731″. After this, we get the song “Snuff”, which brings Araya’s vocals in a cleaner cut while King and Hanneman do what they do best on some fast tremolo. Beyond the obvious technical side, we see songs like “Beauty Through Order” and “Human Strain” taking a deeper lyrical perspective and doing it rather well; the usual subject matter we see on a Slayer record remains at the forefront, but something here feels more reminiscent of early Mustaine or the like in terms of songwriting.
The subtleties present on each track are not exactly good or bad, but just feel like a natural progression in the world of thrash. It’s a regular pooling of resources and inspiration that do not mutate the order of things, but instead tries to complement an already brutal monster by accenting the motives — fleshing it out appropriately. Slayer has unwittingly shown a vulnerability here also in breaking down the insanity; when you give a back story to the horror film’s central villain, you add a slice of sympathy that can either soften its future blows or make it even more horrifying. Slayer is presented here as it always has been, but the brutality now has a drive unseen prior, and though it adds depth and berth to the ideas this band represents, it also takes some bite away and shows the age outside of vocal capacity.
As promised through the album’s title, however, Slayer ups the ante on violence yet again in songs like the World Painted Blood highlights “Hate Worldwide”, modern rock-glazed “Playing With Dolls”, and promotional single “Psychopathy Red”. “Psychopathy Red”, while unfortunately short, has a steady place in my metal play list, alongside “Playing With Dolls” — the latter feeling like a cut track from the Freddy vs Jason OST fittingly enough. “Public Display Of Dismemberment” feels less bass-heavy and has some punk leanings set to high speed, but another zinger, no doubt, in the violence department. “Americon” is an overtly political insertion with marching beats a la Araya’s bass and Lombardo’s tricked out drums. It forces you to imagine armies treading upon unwelcoming blood-stained soil in brilliant flashes and bangs. This is complemented in turn (and suitably so) by a perfectly paced, drum-heavy, cut-to-the-quick inspection of religion: the “Skeleton Christ” extension titled “Not Of This God”.
As it stands right now, Slayer remains as straight in their game as ever before, despite showing its frays a tad, neither improving beyond the scope of the creature born decades ago nor killing it off. There are changes in presentation (most definitely Rubin’s influence), an essence of a stripped-down carcass that wishes to show its sharpest edges in audio. The bottom line with the songs on World Painted Blood revolves around something Slayer succeeds in delivering (as always): pure, unadulterated anarchy. The biggest differences in this Slayer catalog inclusion rests on production values, tight drum work on the toms, Araya’s clicked back bass notes, and a general sense of sensational panic in the lyrics. Lots of punk and modern metal influence strung about the thrash reign here, and Slayer does so damn well to never forget its roots while welcoming a few new flavors into the fold. It is by far not perfect, but much like Megadeth’s Endgame, were this the final Slayer record, the legendary Californians would be exiting on a high note.
Be that the case, we can only hope Lombardo will resurface on another Fantomas recording — calling, Mike Patton?
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world painted blood was good. Kerry King still knows how to do great solos. I especially like the song “Unit 731″. YOUR ROCK SLAYER.
I have been listening to Slayer since ‘86 (when I was a sophmore in high school) and like everyone else was BLOWN AWAY when Reign in Blood was released. Even though I know it is pointless, I can’t help but always compare every new Slayer album since (or before) to Reign. And, again, like everyone else, know there is no comparison. Reign is a true masterpiece that will never, never, NEVER come close to being recreated or copied by any group EVER, including Slayer.
With that said, my personal top three from Slayer are Reign, South of Heaven, and Show No Mercy (is there a better debut by any band ever??? NO WAY). But now that I have been listening to World for about three weeks now I can state this album has firmly positioned itself as the second best Slayer of all time. The boys are back with a freakin vengance unlike anything they have released in the past fifteen years. This album is pure, unadulterated, blissful, speed, freekin metal at it’s finest. To consider that these guys have been playing at this same pace for almost 30 yrs now is quite simply unbelievable.
I won’t get into production value, vocal achievements, song comparisons, or drum beats because, plain and simply, every track on this album is masterful and amazing. I will admit, it took me about three straight days of listening to get used to the riffs, solos, and lyrics, but once they all sank in and became familiar, I can’t get enough.
There used to be a saying about a band from the 60’s that state “They aren’t just the best at what they do, they are the only ones who do what they do…” well, after almost 30 yrs of NEVER changing from the formula that makes them who they are, the same can be said of Slayer. I am so grateful for this band and their never-let-up attitude and achievments. Thank you Slayer for yet another ass-kicking masterpiece….nobody is better!!!!
I agree with david on playing with dolls, it is right behind reign in blood and point as my favorite slayer songs of all time. Every time i listen to it i appreciate it more but it is hard to rate slayer abulms because in my opinion they have not made a bad one yet. I cant wait to see them live again and this time i will not have to travel far because they are finally passing through nashville tennessee which i just live 70 miles from. I also agree with the other comment about them just playing there old stuff because i would love to hear skeletons of society live and at dawn they sleep, chemical warfare, ghosts of war and so on. One suggestion a 2 concert per venue maybe next year, one night undisputed attitude up and next night show no mercy up. Hey a metal head can dream cant he?
I feel the second explanation you gave is more accurate. Is that to say he doesn’t genuinely bring his “A” game to the majority of this album? No.
I just feel like you can tell audibly that his voice is showing age as is expected considering what Slayer’s modus operandi has been musically for the past few decades. Mick Jagger at 60+ will not sound like Tom Araya at 60+ because the vocal presence they utilize are two different things.
It’s not an insult, just an observation — in the end, this is a very playable record indeed and I am greatly pleased that Roadrunner Records offered me a physical copy for review. My order of stellar albums by Slayer is not much different from yours, except Christ Illusion replaces God Hates Us All in my listings.
“Skeleton Christ” = Genius
Been playing it three days now, nonstop.
For me, this new set takes third place in the entire Slayer cataloge—1. Reign In Blood 2. God Hates Us All and 3. World Painted Blood.
Now, Mr. Buchanan—if you are going to write “Sadly, (Tom’s)…age is starting to show, particularly during the chorus, ‘World painted blood/No sanctuary’” please explain. You mean the guy sounds like he’s wearing false teeth? You mean his voice is heading for the croak of old age?
My first impression is the guy sounds effing AMAZING, pure Tom, no compromise and no weakness.
Don’t expect a response, but one would be nice if you feel to.
Musically as Slayer goes, it is definitely a return to Seasons in its own right. Obviously I felt a few minor things bogged it down in certain areas, but I still can’t get enough of it.
Great album, but it’s still no classic in my humble opinion.
I am glad you actually back your arguments though, unwarranted fan boy jive makes me so ill.
Best album of Slayer since Reighn in Blood!
Dear David,
Nice review but I have to disagree on some points.
As a longtime Slayer follower I must say this is Slayer’s most exciting album since Seasons. It shows everything Slayer has done before but also I think this is Slayer’s most experimental album.
Unlike you, I think ‘World painted blood’’s chorus is one of Tom Araya’s most powerful lines ever. It has the brutality shown in Hell Awaits and the hysteria of Reign in Blood but know he really means it
Playing with Dolls its genius. Quite a slow song for Slayer but it gets through my pores.
Give it another try….
G
Best Slayer album since Divine Intervention. I give it 8/10. The production ruined this album from being a true classic. Too much mid and treble. Dave’s drums sounded flat.
I do think their true sound is best live. I’ve seen Slayer about 20 times and they have never disappointed. Will definitely see them on the WPB tour.
Thanks Slayer for another great thrash metal album in a time when everyone else during your generation sold out.
I’m speaking less on his actual production/ex. prod. credits and more on his influence, as he has a habit of trying to glaze things over or move shit around.
Important to remember that after Seasons Rick Rubin NEVER ‘produced’ Slayer. Same goes for WPB. He executive produced, but the extent of that is: here is a great engineer, good luck.