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100

NOW Magazine

It’s a bummer that Slayer’s November 13 Air Canada Centre show, and their entire tour, has been postponed due to lead singer/bassist Tom Araya’s back problems, but we can console ourselves with their excellent new album, which finds the dark-minded, serial-killer-obsessed California thrashers keeping all things in balance.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Greg Fidelman does a better production job here than he did on Metallica’s "Death Magnetic," perhaps due to oversight by Rick Rubin, who produced Slayer’s best work.

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PopMatters

As long as expectations are met, we’ll be happy. And with World Painted Blood, we’re happier than we’ve been in some time.

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Boston Globe

The band’s grim outlook remains bearable after all these years thanks to strong songcraft.

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musicOMH.com

World Painted Blood may not be Reign In Blood, but it finds Slayer close to their best.

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Chicago Tribune

Slayer has remained unrelentingly true to its origins. The innovations no longer arrive with each album, but the quartet is playing at a high level, and Greg Fidelman’s production captures that sound with thrilling, their-fist-your-face immediacy.

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Pitchfork

Slayer being timely is not Slayer being timeless. But the way they're still playing, they sure sound like it.

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All Music Guide

The first listen or two to World Painted Blood might be a bit confusing for the seasoned Slayer fan, but that changes quickly, and the sound of those drums blasting in one's head will become a more than welcome presence in the mix.

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Alternative Press

Sure there are some lulls; but the face-melting trash that surrounds these tunes proves the band still have it in 'em to, well, slay. [Dec 2009, p117]

Q Magazine

More of the same, then, but such cold-blooded consistency should be commended. [Dec 2009, p. 126]

Spin

Tom Araya's shriek has grown ponderous, and not until rosary-ripping closer 'Not of This God' do the four mid-fortysomethings bypass their rigid polkacore hopscotch for a devastating groove.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 19 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

sean K gave it a10:
Best Metal album of 2009, Not a bad song on it. My favorite tracks are: playing with dolls, title track, unit 731, hate world wide and snuff. This album is very well done and proves Slayer are still the bst Thrash metal band ever.

Ed A gave it a10:
No question, the best metal album of the year. After 25+ years defining thrash metal Slayer show the kids how it's done. Another classic to add to their legacy.

The Oz gave it a9:
Maybe one song on here that doesn't agree with me 100%, but Slayer still has it. With Dave Lombardo back in the fold on drums, this album absolutely kills it!

Seth V gave it a10:
This was Slayers best work since Seasons in the Abyss. I've listened to it about a thousand time and i still think it's a great album with some awesome materiel.

Dan L gave it a10:
This album is both fascinating and exhilerating. i loved it. My favorite track is not of this god. awesome song. The title track is great as well . Great job SLAYA!

stan m gave it a10:
This album is incredible. Not a bad song on it. I wanted to listen to it in the car for a couple weeks before voting. The album gets better with every listen. Some of the standout tracks are: Snuff, Not of this God, Unot 731 and Beauty through order. The drumbeats , fast guitars and punk oriented basslines are so intense and riveting and exciting. Best Slayer album since reign in blood.

Andreas M gave it a9:
What are you guys complaining about. Gets better and better each listen. Slayer produce again. Metallica can only dream of former glories.

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World Painted Blood

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