God Hates Us All

Spin - 8 out of 10 - "...Rains new bood, acknowledging the Digital New with squiggly techno-ish synth lines and studio phasing effects....[But] don't worry, Slayer still sound like Slayer...with predatory grace..." Entertainment Weekly - "...The metal equivalent of comfort food..." - Rating: B+ CMJ - "...Blood-soaked M-E-T-A-L..." Q - 4 stars out of 5 - "...As feral and ferocious an album as they've made in years..." Rolling Stone - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...[Their] most brutal record since 1986's REIGN IN BLOOD. Galloping double-bass-drum salvos switch on a dime to furious double-time pummeling..."

Incredibly brutal, God Hates Us All is Slayer's most effective album since Seasons in the Abyss (1990), thanks in large part to Matt Hyde's raw production and a handful of killer songs. The previous few Slayer albums -- Divine Intervention (1994), Undisputed Attitude (1996), and Diabolus in Musica (1998) -- were relatively disappointing, at least for anyone familiar with the band's defining triptych of Reign in Blood (1986), South of Heaven (1988), and Seasons in the Abyss (1990). While God Hates Us All isn't on a par with those classics, without much argument one could call it a return to form for Slayer. A couple "War Ensemble"-style thrashers, "Disciple" and "New Faith," get the album off to vicious start; "Payback" concludes the album likewise. On the other hand, "Bloodline" is a slower-paced, evocative song in the style of "Reign in Blood" and "South of Heaven," including a melodic chorus. These are the highlights of God Hates Us All, and while there are some passable songs sequenced throughout the 13-track album, it's solid and well-balanced overall. Especially since it arrived after a long absence, God Hates Us All should be a relief for long-time Slayer fans who were afraid the band had fallen off during the '90s, and it well may surprise newcomers unfamiliar with the band's prime recordings from the mid- to late '80s. ~ Jason Birchmeier|

マーシャル・アンプ3段積み、弧を描くようなヘッド・バンキング、鋭利なフォルムがたまらないフライングVのギター・・・・もう、いくらでもその魅力を語れるゴッド・オブ・スラッシャー、スレイヤーのライブを<Beast Feast 2001>で目撃。己の美学を貫き通す彼らのステージは圧巻のひと言であった。そして、その衝撃もつかの間、待望のニュー・アルバムが発表された。安易なギミックに頼ることのない、スラッシュ親父ならではの熟練した技とセンス。細部に到るまで徹底的にこだわったサウンド・メイキング(本作ではプロ・トゥールズを導入)。往年のヘッドバンガーズから、現役のハードコア・キッズまでをも巻き込む激音の渦。結果、生まれる唯一無二のカタルシスは王者の称号にふさわしい。デス・メタル、ブラック・メタル、ニュースクール・ハードコア・・・・あらゆるヘヴィーネスの源流がここにある。
bounce (C)上野拓朗