God Hates Us All in Bloomington, MN

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
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
(1990). While
isn't on a par with those classics, without much argument one could call it a return to form for
. 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"
"South of Heaven,"
including a melodic chorus. These are the highlights of
, 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,
should be a relief for long-time
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