Slayer - World Painted Blood (Music CD)

Of the “big four” original thrash bands (the other three being Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth), Slayer was the least compromising and most consistent. As such, 2009’s World Painted Blood recalled more than the title of Slayer’s 1986 masterpiece Reign in Blood; it shared the earlier album’s ferocious aggression and trademark speed metal-meets-hardcore sound. Throughout, the sound is lean and mean, with bassist/vocalist Tom Araya's vocals mixed relatively dry and upfront, giving the album a bracing, fist-to-the-face force. Jackhammer tracks such as “Hate Worldwide” and “Psychopathy Red” are short, no-muss-no-fuss blasts of double kickdrum and minor key-riffing fury with an unrelenting intensity that requires little in the way of sonic or textural variation. Remaining true to Slayer’s defiantly old-school sound, World Painted Blood carried the torch for pure thrash. ~ Pemberton Roach