Slayer - Repentless

(CD Album Review)

****1/2

Slayer are back!!! and Yes!!! it's worth the wait!!!

You all know the back story to this. I’ll skip all of that and get to the point in true Slayer style. All people want and need to know is whether 'Repentless' is good or not and in short "F**k Yes!!!". 'Repentless' is the sound of Slayer on fire again, and it's been well worth the wait. They haven’t sounded this angry, energetic and hungry since 'God hates us All' and that was back in 2001.

This is a tricky topic to address because Jeff Hanneman is no longer with us but I felt on 'Christ illusion' and 'World painted Blood'. Slayer sounded like a shell of their former selves, those albums were stodgy and forgetful and it felt like the band were on auto pilot. If anything positive came from Jeff Hanneman’s passing... it was the massive responsibility the rest of the band felt in having to deliver an album that paid tribute to their fallen brother, and 'Repentless' does just that!!! and Jeff’s presence is felt throughout.

If the opening self-titled track alone doesn’t get your pulse running and confirms Slayer are back then I can’t help you. 'Take Control' starts off with Kerry King’s signature shredding and cuts into and awesome straight ahead chugging chorus that demands head banging. One thing I think that gives this album the shot in the arm it needed is Paul Bostaph.

People are so quick to forget his original stint in the band and he is generally on of Metal's under rated drummers. He just gives all the songs the kick they need, I dare say he also felt the pressure as this is the second time he has to follow Dave Lombardo and all eyes and ears... are on him. The album takes a step back and goes slow and moody for a couple of numbers namely 'Cast the first Stone' and 'When the stillness comes' which many people were unsure off when it came out as a single but it sounds much better in the context of an album track.

It fits on the album well and works much better sitting among a collection of songs. All in all I found this album an effortless listen, you put it on and it just plays itself. It's only fourty one minutes long, and it feels a lot shorter. The previous two albums I had to play again and again and nothing gripped me.

This demands to played on repeat, each song bleed into the next it’s simply fourty minutes of Slayer on form and doing what they do best which is exactly what I wanted and needed from them. My only slight complaint is that I would have liked Gary Holt to have a bit more of a presence, but there is always a future what we have here will do just fine.

Lastly get the DVD or Blu-Ray edition, the concert is awesome it’s better than some general release DVD’s from them and the documentary is insightful with some great studio footage and the artwork is to die for and case that unfolds into the inverted cross is amazing. This is a testament to a fallen legend and an awesome band, a massive devil horns in the face of adversity. “Live fast, on high, 'Repentless', let it ride”.

Review by Joe Denby