Customer Reviews

World Painted Blood (CD & DVD)

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I'm a huge Slayer fan. This album is great, even though it's pretty short, clocking in at under 40 minutes. All Slayer fans will enjoy the album, but no one should buy the "Deluxe Edition". The DVD contains a short, cheaply animated film called "Playing With Dolls" that is truly terrible. Incredibly amateur film making. For those who are buying the deluxe version to hear the non-album track "Atrocity Vendor", all you get is about a 30 second clip of the song, not the entire thing. The song was omitted from the album, and is simply not available yet. All the videos in the 20 minute film follow this structure, just 30-45 second clips of Slayer's new songs woven in with this horrible film. There are no complete videos or anything, nor any extra bonus features.

Like I said, I love Slayer, and I really like the new album, but you would be much better off buying the standard version for much less money (unless you just want the cool case). Trust me, the 20 minute film is not worth your extra dollars. I expected much more, which is why I gave this product 4 out 5.

If you're looking for a Slayer album that rivals all-time classics like Reign in Blood or Seasons in the Abyss, this ain't it. At the same time, let's be realistic. This is Slayer 20+ years later. All in all, I think this is a rather good effort.

Pros:
*The songs are pretty good. Some are better than others, but I'm not compelled to skip any tracks. From start to finish, this is a solid, consistent recording.

*It sounds more like pure, classic Slayer than Christ Illusion (though I enjoyed Christ Illusion too, BTW). If you didn't like Christ Illusion, you'll like this better but don't expect to be blown away.

*It's Slayer. It sounds like Slayer. It's good.

Cons:
*The production is a mixed bag. Tom's vocals sound good. Dave's drums are heavy. The rhythm guitars sound terrible. They're thin and weak. Producer Greg Fidelman needs to find a new career. He's worthless.

*The riffs, while generally good, aren't particularly complex. On a technical level, everything can be played with one guitar. I wonder if this is a product of Jeff and Kerry writing songs separately these days. Neither seem to write song with dual-riffing in mind anymore.

*Even when Jeff and Kerry play the same riff simultaneously, it still sounds like one guitar due to the weak production. Did I mention that Greg Fidelman's worthless?

Overall, this is a good album by Slayer circa 2009. Any Slayer fan with reasonable expectations will enjoy it. Can it live up to the band's classic releases? Of course not! The Slayer of today can't possibly play with the strength and power of the Slayer of twenty years ago. That said, Slayer can still deliver the goods. Just don't expect the goods to be as in good condition as they were 20 years ago.

Slayer's new CD sees the band going back more to the song writing styles and variety that brings to mind their 1990 masterpiece "Seasons in the Abyss" and 1994's underated "Divine Intervention".
The album features the same raw and punshing sound as their last release Christ Illusion but with much more variety throughout the just shy of 40 minutes World Painted Blood.

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman has a much more stronger songwriting presence on this album as he was only responsible for 3 songs on Christ Illusion. It always seems that when he's much more heavily involved in the song writing that the variety in styles reappears on albums. Christ Illusion was pretty much Kerry King's album and he tends to write in just one style anymore but even he has stepped up his writing on this one. Jeff Hanneman also played all of his guitar parts on this album as Kerry King had been doing most of his rhythm parts for their last few albums.

I don't know if it was the fact that much of this album was created in the studio for the first time in their career or what but this album sees the band playing with a vitality that they really haven't exhibited in spades since 1994's Divine Intervention.

And for people complaining about the production, it's fine. It sounds like a more raw version of the production on Christ Illusion and the guitars have a bit more of a buzz saw sound to them at times. Dave Lombardo's drums also have a very natural sound on this album which is so good to hear again in this day and age of pro tools digital recording. Tom Araya's vocals could be a hair higher in the mix on some songs but there's also some actual singing on here which he really hasn't done since 1988's South of Heaven.

There's not a bad song on here and the album is super strong from start to finish. If this does for some reason end up being the final Slayer album, it's a super strong way for this legendary metal band to go out.

Slayer have once again shown why they are the best. This album is better than Christ Illusion. It's more focused, more aggressive, and more sinister.
It's all here: All-out speed, chugging/moshable grooves, insane guitar leads, Araya's timeless vocals (both gruff and spoken/softer), and the magnificent drum work of the inimitable Dave Lombardo. All of that is meshed together in such a razor-sharp manner, that you can't help but be blown away.

As for the extra DVD...eh. Not such a big deal.

If you've EVER liked Slayer, get this CD now. You will not be dissappointed.
Slayer is, without a doubt, the most consistent and reliable Metal band of their generation.

2009 was another amazing year for heavy metal releases, as we all saw so many awesome new albums come out including ones form Kreator, Megadeth, Mastodon, Isis, Behemoth, Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Dream Theater, Chimaira, Suffocation, Scar Symmetry, Five Finger Death Punch, and of course Slayer. Their latest release "World Painted Blood" is just simply amazing, and it's definately one of the best metal cd's of 2009. It just thrashes and speeds through your stereo speakers like a beast from start to finish exactly the way a true thrash/speed metal album should do. I've been a huge fan of Slayer since I was 17, when I listened to both "South of Heaven" and "Seasons in the Abyss". They are without question one of thrash metal's legendary and most popular bands, and when it comes to true and pure thrash metal, these guys got it down 100%. For "World Painted Blood", the production is handled by Greg Fidelman, and it really gives the album a real killer raw and punshing edge which I love, and of course the band's musicianship is in absolute top form here. Tom Araya's screams never sounded more angrier, and he also throws in some actual singing parts especially on "Beauty Through Order" and "Human Strain". Guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King both do an excellent job as always, lashing out lots of fast aggressive riffs and wild chaotic solos, and meanwhile Dave Lombardo keeps the energy and aggression going throughout with he's so well known for. He is simply one of metal's all time greatest drummers, no questions asked. Every song on this album is just excellent and diverse in each of it's own way. The opening title track is awesomely heavy and chugging ball-breaker that gets the energetic assault going on all cylanders, and following that are two ramming, speeding train wreckers "Unit 731" and "Snuff" (both songs are highlighted by onslaughts of fast hammering drums and violent energetic riffing and loud squealing solos). Track four and my favorite song "Beauty Through Order" slows things down a bit, but it features great build ups to some blistering thrash tempo changes especially near the end, meanwhile the fifth track "Hate Worldwide" is another awesome, thrashing assault that features more lightning fast riffs and leads, as well as more fast pounding and slamming drumwork, and a great chorus to boot. Track eight "Americon" is another favorite on here that is highlighted by an infectious main riff, and a hefty, thumping, mid paced drum beat, and politically charged lyrics, while "Psychopathy Red" is another violent, thrashing, barn-burner that seriously delivers with a kick, and will have you headbanging endlessly throughout. "Playing with Dolls" is another awesome slow building cut that features a very strong vocal performance by Tom (and one of his best, may I add), and the lyrics are simply haunting and chilling, and of course the closing track "Not of This God" ends this thrashterpiece on a super strong note with more violent riffs and slamming drums that will leave you battered and bruised. "World Painted Blood" overall is a 100% pedal to the metal, thrashing, barn-burner of an album, and it's definately right up there with classic Slayer albums such as "Reign in Blood", "Seasons in the Abyss", "South of Heaven", and "Hell Awaits". Slayer are truly a perfect example of true thrash metal done 100% correctly with no flaws whatsoever, and this new album is indeed proof. Bottom Line, this album is highly recommended to ANY fan of Slayer, so do yourself a good favor, and get this album as soon as possible, and spread a little hate worldwide, Slayer style!!

As a Slayer fan since the Reign in Blood days, my favorite Slayer albums are from the period comprising Reign in Blood--> South of Heaven--> Seasons in the Abyss--> Divine Intervention. The immediately preceding album, Hell Awaits, is quite good too, but not quite up to this level.

I felt they lost their way a bit after this; not a lot, just a bit. In my opinion, Diabolus, God Hates Us All, Christ Illusion, and now World Painted Blood are down a bit from that "classic" 5-star Slayer period. Overall these most recent 4 albums seem to lack the staying power of the earlier ones. I can't put my finger on why I feel this way because there are some excellent individual songs on these albums. Maybe I'm just getting older and more nostalgic...who knows.

On a side note, I find it interesting that a lot of the Amazon reviewers complain about the production of this album and then in the same breath praise the low-budget poorly produced 80's albums like Hell Awaits, Reign in Blood, and Show No Mercy. Doesn't make any sense.

Finally, from reading the reviews here, it's obvious that Slayer fans are a diverse lot that possess many varying views on what they like about the band's direction and what they don't like about it. To me, World Painted Blood is pretty much a standard 21st century Slayer release. Not bad, but then again, not outstanding either...there are a handful of memorable tracks on here that will stand the test of time. I give this album 3+ stars. I want to give it 4, and maybe it will grow on me and obtain that 4th star one day, but it's not quite there yet...

We all know the resume of this band. I think all Slayer cds are great, for the time period they were released and circumstances surrounding each cd. I prefer more of the 80's/early 90's Slayer though. I also felt Christ Illusion was one of the best cds they have put out and had a great production and alot of oomph to the songs. I find the oomph lacking in this release. First of all this is 100% Slayer, don't get me wrong, been listening to them since they first started out and have seen them multiple times live. The solos are fantastic, Lombardo's drummming is off the hook and Araya really sounds great on this release. I also love the atmosphere to some of the songs, like Human Strain. But the producer greg Fidelman makes this a less powerful sounding release than it should be. I don't think he understands metal, or thrash for that matter. I thought the production on Metallica's Death Magnetic last yr was quite decent. Guitars were up front and the drumming was light yrs better sounding than St. Anger. So he did a decent job last yr, but w/Slayer he screwed things up. Now I have excellent stereo equipment, so it has nothing to do w/not listening to this on a good system. Frankly those are usually weak arguments. If it's a good recording it will sound good on anything. First problem on this is the guitar sound is flat and weak. If you listen to Psycopathy Red (great song), the guitars sound amazing, as does the other instruments. Problem is and a very big glaring problem, the producer used the production/mix from this song that was released as a single many months ago. Why they did not mix the other songs this way, I have no idea. It is very glaring when listening to the rest of the cd, that has a different mix. Another problem is Public Display of Dismemberment. Song has blast beats, my brother in law did not know the tune had blasts until I told him to listen more closely, the mix on this song is dreadful. The drum beats are back in the mix and do not come through. A shame, since this is one of the best songs on the cd. I also found some of the riffs just not as good as past releases. But this still is 100% Slayer and better than any of the Bostaph releases, for sure. On a side note, w/these last 2 releases Slayer still won't give credit for death metal for influencing them to use blast beats and I am kind of sick of them constantly bashing death metal bands. Last I checked Nile's latest release and same with Man Must Die had a shoestring production budget compared to this, yet sound light yrs better.

SLAYER has returned with a MONSTER of an album!
Not that they ever went away, but "World Painted Blood" can take it's unholy place next to "Reign in Blood", "South of Heaven" & "Seasons in the Abyss". The originators of Extreme Metal have returned to claim their Blood Drenched Throne.
Those people that say they have been in a rut the last few years, just need to listen to this album once--twice--who am I kidding, just leave it in your cd player. Not only have they ditched pro-tools for Dave, but Dave is once again showing why he is the First, the Last & ONLY NAME IN EXTREME THRASH! His drums are thumping & to help with the bone crushing riffs he scaled back to a 9 piece. Tom is back in classic form that was very apparent on "South of Heaven" & "Seasons in the Abyss", Kerry is well Kerry (we don't our unholy bald brother to change now do we?) Jeff has returned & what a return--SLAYER is 20 times better when Jeff is heavily involved.
This is what the follow up to "Seasons" should have been. Once again they show the immitators how the big boys do it.
Do yourself a favor & buy this album right now, in fact don't stop with this album, go on a demonic journey until you see yourself throw your horns in the air & scream SLAYER till you lungs bleed.

This is why Slayer are still around and are still a real vital force in the metal scene---they continue to put out quality metal music. They're not just putting out new CDs so they can have an excuse to tour and play the golden oldies.
World Painted Blood makes Slayer sound just as fresh and important as they did in the 80's.
It's difficult to pick out the best songs on this CD, there are highlights, but really every track is good. This album can really hold it's own even when compared to the classics; Reign in Blood, South of Heaven and Seasons in the Abyss...really. I've always been a fan of Divine Intervention too, WPB is just as good, maybe better.
It's better than Show no Mercy and Hell Awaits. It by far surpasses Diabolus (The only Slayer CD I don't like a lot). It's better than Christ Illusion (I like that one too).
I like the sheer aggression and rawness of God Hates us All, but WPB is better--it has all the aggression plus the old school riffs and melody, the solos, the drumming, the screams...ahhhhhh!!!
It's really just the next step of Slayer's evolution. All the best parts of what they've done in the past and little more.
Whenever one of the big four put out a new album there has to be a comparison, well this release far surpasses Megadaves last release; Endgame.
Metallica's Death Magnetic was an improvement for them, but has nowhere near the sheer power and frankly, talent as WPB.
And Anthrax? Are they even relevant at this point?
Slayer are the only one of the big 4 that have stayed true to their fans, thier roots, they are thr Thrash Metal Gods.

I LAUGH TO SEE THE MORONS HERE BITCH ABOUT SLAYER AND CAST HIGH HANDED JUDGEMENTS CONCERNING MUSICAL DIRECTION. ONLY A FOOL WANTS THE SAME ALBUM OVER AND OVER. I'M NO FOOL. THIS ALBUM IS JUST AS INTENSE AS ANYTHING THEY'VE EVER RECORDED. MAYBE A BIT DIFFERENT IN PLACES, CERTAINLY REMINISCENT OF THE 80'S IN OTHER PLACES, COMPREHENSIVE LYRICS THROUGHOUT AND LOTS OF SPEED. SLAYER HAS ALWAYS KEPT THE GIST OF THEIR MUSIC INTACT AND YOU WILL FIND NO DEVIATION HERE. YOU KNOW RIGHT AWAY THAT YES, THIS IS SLAYER.

TO BE FAIR THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN THE MUSIC IS MORE BASIC AND LOW KEY THAN USUAL, BUT NOT OFTEN AND IT SOUNDS GREAT ANYHOW. TOM'S VOICE WANES A BIT HERE AND THERE, BUT AGAIN, NO CAUSE FOR ALARM. THE LEADS SHRED AND THE DRUMS ARE BEASTLY, AS USUAL.

SO....DIFFERENT AND NOT SO DIFFERENT, BUT DEEPLY SATISFYING.

4 STARS, NO QUESTION.