There’s been three years since “Christ Illusion”, the first album after “Seasons In The Abyss” the original line-up (Araya/Hanneman/King/Lombardo) did together. Truth is that it divided the fans in those who thought the band sounded tired and bored and to those that felt that Slayer was on the throne once more. What can someone expect from “World Painted Blood” when the members are forty five and more? When THIS band has nothing to prove since having released at least three of the best metal albums of all times?

The new Slayer album is indeed very intense, very aggressive, and fast and furious. The tracks we’ve already heard (“Psychopathy Red” & “Hate Worldwide”) are these –not just them- that will bring to mind the old Slayer. Naturally, there are some new elements like the blast beats (you heard right!) at the end of the opening, title track and on “Public Display Of Dismemberment” or some riffs that seem to have a Scandinavian feeling in them. Don’t get upset since half of these are recycled from their own 80s ideas!

On the other hand some –let’s call them- darker songs like “Human Strain” or “Playing With Dolls” fail to stand across the tough circumstances (see Divine Intervention, Dead Skin Mask etc). Someone could say that same goes for their faster material but the problem is based elsewhere. When you listen to the album carefully you’ll notice that one part might remind you the same of a past track or in another theme you’ll feel that they try to revive past glories. Unfortunately, the results are wretched and the band is, probably, at its nadir in inspiration. This for Slayer and their level matches to four, at least, fillers and no classics. Before freaking out just take a moment to consider how many years the two thrash giants, Jeff Hanneman & Kerry King, compose riffs, huge Tom Araya screams and the best metal drummer for many years, Dave Lombardo, beats. It’s been almost 30! How irrational is for them not to be in the same shape today (only Tony Iommi can!); because if “God Hates Us All” reminded of “Diabolus In Musica” this one sounds quite like “Christ Illusion”, with more melody lines, though. The effect Slayer has on the extreme metal scene is enormous but as Kerry has stated ‘the bands shouldn’t become rock dinosaurs’.

Listening to “World Painted Blood” is not a bad experience. You’ll find it in many different versions with lots of gifts and the full picture of the very interesting cover (part of it is shown in each simple version of the CD) showing up like in a puzzle. It’s just that the gods can’t reach the top like back then. They just can’t…