This is GODS WAR!!
Sadly it is often the case that when an established band release a new collection of songs, their fans and the music press tend to say 'what it's not'. Reading fans reaction of the new Iron Maiden album, 'A Matter of Life and Death', there were several reactions stating that's it's not 'Piece of Mind Part 2' or have any killer cuts such as 'Aces High' or 'Phantom of the Opera'. I think this is a natural human reaction, I'll admit I've done it myself in the past, but sometimes you have to say to yourself, 'ok, it may not be these things, but what does it deliver instead?' Certainly in Slayer's case their ninth full length studio release 'Christ Illusion,' there is a case to point out that although this album isn't 'Reign in Blood part 2' or 'Revenge from the Seasons in the Abyss', it is a quality slab of nasty metal that delivers that metal attitude with frightening regularity.
I could waste everyone's time by droning on about Slayer's previous albums thus giving you a brief biog, but instead I'll try and empathise with those who may be listening to 'Christ Illusion' as a first step into Slayer. Does it stand up as a credible metal album? Is it relevant? Is it worthy of a band who are almost drowned in metal accolades?
Let's make it clear that there are many bands, especially in the extreme metal market, that are heavier both in sound and production, but precious few bands actually match Slayer for sheer aggression and piss angry attitude. Even on opening track 'Flesh Storm' (great title) the urgency hits you like a hockey-stick covered in barbed wire.
'Christ Illusion' sees the first return of original drummer Dave Lombardo since his departure after 1991's 'Decade of Aggression', and he's not lost any of his pounding skills, throwing the song's tempo changes around as if they were paper dolls. Kerry King's crazy solo stings like an angry wasp, and Tom Araya sings 'Violence Is Our Way of Life...' with unnerving sincerity. 'Catalyst' is another power house of a tune and it is at this point it is obvious why Slayer are still at the top of the thrash tree after all these years. It's not the fact they are loud, heavy or aggressive, any band can plug in, turn up and make a racket, it's the fact that Slayer have that rare talent of writing great, intense hooks that make such heavy music extremely accessible. Album highlight 'Jihad' is a wonderful example of this technique. An eerie introduction leads seamlessly into a bomb of speed metal, it's crescendo being Tom shouting 'This is God's war!' At the 1:50 mark the song breaks into one of this decades catchiest riffs before launching into a violent solo trade off by Hanneman and King. The fact that they can write something so damn catchy and still make it sound credible is a testament to their song-writing prowess. It is a good example that perhaps many contemporary bands could learn from.
The Sabbeth-esque 'Catatonic' dooms its way through the airwaves proving once again that a band doesn't have to shackle themselves to one style of song for the duration of their career (ahem Dragonforce). All the truly great albums of our time have a balanced track-listing, 'Christ Illusion' is no different. I don't think it has enough classic material to eclipse 'Reign in Blood' but any metal head looking for an intelligently written, uncompromising, honest slab of goddam heavy metal should check this disc out. Unfortunately it comes with a censored cover which lasted 10 seconds before being screwed up and thrown into the nearest bin. (With the government worried about the amount of teenage pregnancies, perhaps the idiot censors should look towards the sexual imagery and blatantly suggestive lyrics of hip-pop and the like, before putting false covers over a cartoon effigy of Jesus.)
'Christ Illusion' not only stands up as a credible metal album, it's one of the best thrash albums released so far this year, eclipsing releases by Sepultura and Shadows Fall. For those fans still thinking it's not exactly classic Slayer, it perhaps maybe for those listening to Slayer for the first time. Try and keep an open mind.