With Dave Lombardo back in the band, it felt like there was something to prove. Kerry King wrote 70 percent of the songs, so if it was not evident he was the Gene Simmons of the band, then you are not paying attention. The opening track is what you expect from these guys, and it sounds better to me listening back to this than when it came out. They pour on the speed for "Catalyst' which finds Slayer proving that even they are not immune to the rule here at "cool riffs alone do not a good song make." In many ways, they are just picking up where they left off with "God Hates Us All".
"Skeleton Christ" is more deliberate. Their songwriting is more nuanced than the first two songs. The faster parts do feel rushed, like the faster moments on "Reign in Blood" where Lombardo's drumming balances things out. The ptsd theme of "Eyes of the Insane" has some weight and depth along with the darker brooding of the guitars. It might be the album's best song. "Jihad" is also really strong, and is both intense and grooving. "Consfearcy" speeds with a frantic punk-paced feral thrashing. You can tell Kerry King did some prep work for the solos on this album.
"Catatonic" is an overlooked gem, as it is more deliberate. "Black Seranade' is a great song title, but what happens feels more like filler. "Cult" is a much better song. Until it blasts off, it almost feels like a more ominous serial killer love song, they strike of balance of songwriting while still pumping out hyper-aggressive, in-your-face, raging. Baffling juxtaposition of how these lyrics are sung by a Catholic. Just how devout are we actually talking? "Supremist" closes the album with another speedy double bass blitz. I will give this one a 9.5, pretty good in the big picture, but not their best work since we are talking Slayer.
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