SLAYER — Christ Illusion (review)

SLAYER — Christ Illusion album cover Album · 2006 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Warthur
Though I concur with the general consensus that the Slayer sound went a little off-course after Seasons In the Abyss, I actually think God Hates Us All represented the beginning of the band pulling things together - not to a sufficient extent to add another full-blown classic to the Slayer discography, mind, but enough that Slayer could turn out an album which wasn't a flat-out embarrassment set next to their earlier work, even though it wasn't exactly a classic to set alongside their best pieces either.

The comeback was firmed up on Christ Illusion, with the return of Dave Lombardo reuniting the classic Slayer lineup. Though I don't want to cast any doubts on Paul Bostaph's ability as a drummer, I have to say having Lombardo back with the band really helps Slayer on Christ Illusion; his drumming adds just the right bit of extra fire and fury which is needed to take the material on here to the next level. The restoration of the classic lineup also sees Slayer angling slightly more for the nostalgia market, with affectations borrowed from more recent metal toned down.

If I had to highlight a weak point of the album, I'd say Tom Araya's vocals are rather grating - whereas on classics like Reign In Blood he seemed to be in the middle of an angry rant, here he just seems to be yelling to be heard above the music. Still, on the while I'd say Christ Illusion is something of a return to form for the band, the main caveat being that that form tends to consist of Slayer paying tribute to classic Slayer rather than really carving out something truly new.
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