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Classic metal fans have been eagerly awaiting the latest release from those veterans of thrash, Slayer, for years. Recorded over a two-year period, and finally released late last year, World Painted Blood is the band’s tenth studio album. But was it worth the wait?
After a brief intro, the CD hits hard right from the start, with the quick vocals and memorable riffs of the menacing title track. This is the longest song of the eleven cuts, at around 5 ½ minutes, and the rhythm sticks in my head. As the intensity continues with the exciting guitar solos in “Snuff” and “Beauty Through Order,” it sounds like it’s going to be an enjoyable ride.
However, even blood, death, anarchy, murder, and mayhem can start to sound mundane after a while. Musically, there isn’t much deviation. The chilling, gruesome lyrics continue to show extreme passion, and that’s a huge plus. However, I didn’t get that from listening to the CD. Instead, I had to scan the lyric sheet, which is pretty difficult to do while driving. The brutal thoughts of a serial killer as he’s about to claim his prey—specifically, those of Russian Andrei Chikatilo, who murdered 56 children—is the theme of “Psychopathic Red.” No, I didn’t figure out who the specific sociopath was on my own—I got it from the band’s Web site.
The vocals and tempo change up in “Playing With Dolls,” as vocalist Tom Araya deliberately recounts “Slicing out your throat to warm my skin…” and this cut winds up as one of my favorites. However, as the second to last track on the album, it’s too little, too late. Though the entire CD clocks in at less than forty minutes, it seems like an eternity.
Back to my original question. If you’re a classic, hard-core thrash fan, and you’re satisfied with Slayer as-is, you‘ll probably consider World Painted Blood worth the wait and time invested in the project. However, personally, I’m eager for something fresh and original. I appreciate music that evolves from decade to decade and doesn’t remain stagnant. I also want some variation from cut to cut.
Maybe I prefer a mixture of genres within a song or album or even a mix of sub-genres within metal—not just straight-up thrash. Or maybe I’m just ready for another musical take on morbidity, insanity, and destruction.
