In 2001, after the release of Slayer’s God Hates Us All—their then-latest album—the band remained a hot topic on many fronts for the following five years. Questions like Where is Slayer’s future headed? and Will the old Slayer ever return? were on everyone’s lips. During these years, two DVDs were released attempting to answer those questions, but they ultimately proved inconclusive. Slayer’s last album faced heavy criticism, and this wasn’t a new development—it had been brewing since the departure of drummer Dave Lombardo in the early ‘90s. Then, after a long absence, Lombardo returned to the fold.
News of a new album had already started to circulate last spring...
With Dave Lombardo’s return, Slayer recorded a DVD last year, delivering a wild display of power to their fans—almost as if to say, We’re Still Here! But as I mentioned earlier, only a new album could truly answer all lingering questions about Slayer’s direction. And indeed, that’s exactly what happened.
The album was originally aimed for release on June 6, 2006 (06.06.06), but due to various delays, it didn’t make that date. Instead, only an EP was released at that time. While the EP didn’t receive much praise, some critics heavily targeted it because the songs on it were arguably the weakest tracks intended for the album.
Then came August 8, 2006, when the full Christ Illusion album was officially released.
A quick note: The album was produced by Rick Rubin. When I first put the CD into my player, I immediately noticed it was a fairly short album, clocking in at 38 minutes and 42 seconds total. Pressing play, the opening track Flesh Storm began. Speed, anger, drums played with a ravenous hunger, brutally heavy guitars, and vocals full of rage! This was exactly what fans had been waiting and hoping for. Slayer had come back precisely as they should have.
After listening to the song several times, I moved on to the second track and continued through the album. Track four (which was also on the EP) particularly caught my attention. What was a song with such a different intro—seemingly unrelated to Slayer—doing on this album? Fortunately, guitarist Jeff Hanneman answered this question, stating that if you pay attention to the song’s title and lyrics, you’ll realize that the intent was simply to mock, criticize, and slam.
Yes, the track is called Jihad. Although it may not be necessary to focus too much on the lyrics in a review like this, I strongly recommend carefully examining the lyrics throughout the entire album—not just for this song.
The fifth track, Skeleton Christ, is indisputably one of the album’s most impactful songs. The opening guitars alone will leave an impression. Before moving on, I must add that, in my opinion, Eyes Of The Insane is the weakest song on the album. Despite having a music video, it is clearly one of the most mediocre tracks in many respects.
Listening to Cult on the EP, I didn’t notice much, but within the album’s flow, it reminded me of Bloodline from the previous album. That is to say, it is a slower-paced track, removed from the speed effects, and belongs to the category of somewhat average songs. The album’s final track, Supremist, has a very clear Death Metal vibe. Whether this is due to Lombardo’s experience away from Slayer is up for debate.
Slayer has been a staple in the metal community for many years, and naturally, they’ve aged. But after 23 years since their first album, it’s truly gratifying that they can still play this fiercely live. The standout element of this album is definitely Dave Lombardo’s drumming. Although he often appears tired in live performances, it seems he saved all his energy for the album. Aside from that, everything remains quintessential Slayer!
I should also add that the music is not entirely free from Hardcore influences. You can definitely notice this in some parts, but rest assured, these elements won’t bother you.
To put it lightly, the secret really is Lombardo! :) Slayer is back among us with a very clear and solid album. It can definitely be seen as a return to their roots, preserving many Old School elements very well in this release.
Finally, since I mentioned the lyrics earlier, it’s impossible not to talk about the album cover. Staying true to Slayer’s classic style, if you look closely, you’ll see many figures—from Adolf Hitler to the Virgin Mary. Furthermore, if you look even closer, you can spot a Vatican engulfed in flames and, interestingly (though not surprisingly), an aircraft carrier. Understanding what these symbols mean requires careful examination and cross-referencing with the lyrics.
Tracklist:
Flesh Storm
Catalyst
Eyes Of The Insane
Jihad
Skeleton Christ
Consfearacy
Catatonic
Black Serenade
Cult
Supremist
Lineup that recorded the album:
Tom Araya – Bass & Vocals
Jeff Hanneman – Guitar
Kerry King – Guitar
Dave Lombardo – Drums