Given that cod-satanism is now the preserve of tweenie Marilyn Manson fans, and the grotesque fascism of National Socialist Black Metal is fulfilling heavy metal's need for parent-baiting taboos, it's hard to see how Slayer can shock any more. This attempt to revive past glories sees them reunited with producer Rick Rubin. But while no solo is left unwiddled, no riff left unchugged and no blasphemy left unuttered ("Religion's a whore," screams Tom Araya on Cult), Slayer seem unwilling to ditch the nu-metal tendencies that have made much of their recent output so resistible, which suggests Rubin's involvement was considerably less hands-on than in his remarkable redemptions of Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond. Wholly disappointing.
Jamie Thomson
The GuardianTramp
