World Painted Blood

iTunes Review

When it comes to heavy metal, thrash veterans Slayer deliver without fail. Unlike other bands who eventually find the mainstream with ballads or somehow calibrate their sound for radio, Slayer have never lost the “heavy” in their music. They continue to write strong, memorable riffs that never let up or let down. The title track opens things with a spoken word intro and shifts in tempo that remind listeners that original drummer Dave Lombardo is back behind the kit. “Unit 731” channels the relentless thrash pace of Reign In Blood. “Snuff” jams tight with guitar solos that flicker towards the heavens. Guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman are in fine form and power the tracks with an authority their followers often dream of. The band turns on a dime, as “Public Display of Dismemberment” and “Play With Dolls” prove beyond doubt. Bands inspired by these innovators have come along to expand on this classic band’s attack, but there’s still nothing quite like hearing Tom Araya scream as if his life depended on it.