Originally Posted by Seerix

Well, I have now heard this album, and I admit I do like it. We aren't talking about anything groundbreaking here, of course, but there is no question there is a different level of confidence is present. And my prediction of B and B flat was a bit off: they do dip down to B a few times, but there are a surprising number of songs that are just a half step down from E. This is probably the most varied set of key signatures on any one album, which is not bad considering there are only 10 songs. That was a nice surprise. You won't be looking down at the player to find out whether it's a new song or not.

There is an added depth that has been missing for quite a while, well, since Seasons indeed. They seem to have invested a little extra time into making what few melodies they employ more memorable. You hear it in the playing and in Tom Araya's vocals. Even though he can't quite get enough variance in his voice to really give the songs the dynamics anymore, he has clearly invested some thought into his delivery.

And oh yeah, Dave Lombardo's back. If the members of the Paul Bostaph fan club were slight in number before, this release will shut it down for good. He wasn't a bad drummer, but he didn't have the uncanny sense of when to break out and when to show restraint that Lombardo has - to me, it always seemed like he was auditioning for the band. Less is more sometimes.

So hey, it is better than I thought it would be, and about as good as I had hoped, given that they're clearly past their prime and aren't abut to reinvent themselves, let alone any one element of music. It will undoubtedly be the metal album of the summer, and I'll pick it up as soon as I can find it cheap enough to do so.

So hey: this year, 2006, the Venom and Slayer were both good. You don't suppose it might be worth checking out Metallica after all, do you?

Originally Posted by T Bogus

That sounds like great news. I'm VERY excited now

Just from the album art and song titles, they refuse to let down their guard - which I like.

Not that I'm all about anti-christianity or anything... but its cool to see band as popular as them sticking to what they've been screaming about for decades.

\m/

Originally Posted by Satchmo8101

Slayer's covers and song titles and "Devil Worship" is all about marketing and Benjamins.


I would have actually been surprised if they didn't have a cover like that.

Originally Posted by T Bogus

Most people probably would've cried "sellout" though

You're right - its definately part of their marketing

Originally Posted by Satchmo8101

If they had a cover of a mom and pop and child at the beach, but the music was Slayer....that would have been Rock N' Roll, Punk, Metal or whatever the F**K you want to call it.


A cover like they have, I don't even bother looking at more then once. Ho hum, Baby! Been there, done that.