Veteran rockers return with vengeance and brutality many younger bands can't master

The title of this album became rather prophetic on the day of its release in the States but it is hard to imagine that many were paying attention. It was the Terror Tuesday when America suffered but the world bled from a gapping wound of humanity, when democracy was covered in the horrific dust like snowflakes from hell. ‘God Hates Us All’ seemed to be the theme of the day.

The Slayer’s album doesn’t deal with terrorism per se but there is anger, violence, hatred and fury that such acts of destruction evoke. It appears the album has been made for this moment, like Hollywood-fiction-turned-NYC-tragic-fact has got its soundtrack in these songs. ‘Payback’ and ‘Exile’ lash mercilessly, ‘Disciple’ looks out for trouble, ‘Bloodline’ just kills with the volume.

If you liked the more-melodic-and-slower album of two years ago, ‘Diabolus In Musica’, then you’ll be shocked; fans can appreciate the return to more ‘true’ Slayer as this album is on par with the milestones like ‘Seasons In The Abyss’ and ‘Reign In Blood’. This album is from hard darkness with heavier anger, louder fury and more powerful.

The band’s singer, Tom Araya, is about to hit 40 but sounds like life really begins at that age. He sounds vital without wasting energy, committed without sounding obsessive, Kerry King’s riffs are as sharp as his tattooed scalp, Jeff Hanneman and Paul Bostaph constantly laying cruel foundations. The band’s been long enough together, nigh to 2 decades, to be able to function with a Terminator’s efficiency.

Things on the Tuesday that shook the world indelibly change our outlook and everything else pales in comparison. Slayer can’t measure on this scale but have made their third classic album, nevertheless.

8/10