#repentless

Repentless came out to decidedly mixed reviews, but there was no other way Slayer’s first album without Jeff Hanneman could be received.  Even more than God Hates Us All or Christ Illusion, this album was the Kerry King show: although the band managed to flesh out Hanneman’s “Piano Wire” from a demo to a working track, “Atrocity Vendor” was the only other song not written solely by King, and without Hanneman around to provide some checks and balances, Repentless found Kerry King at his most unrestrained, which was too much for even a lot of diehards to take.  But even with some truly lunkheaded lyrics and aimless riffing, Slayer could still be the most lethal band on the planet when everything aligned, and “Take Control” would’ve been a highlight on any of the band’s last three albums.  Good production was definitely a major factor, as Terry Date’s recording was far more robust than the anemic production Josh Abraham and Greg Fidelman delivered on Christ Illusion and World Painted Blood.  But focus mattered a lot as well, and “Take Control” was not only full of typical Slayer venom, but was also played with purpose, as Gary Holt ably filled in on lead guitar while Paul Bostaph slammed his drums with perhaps the most intensity we’ve ever heard from him.  Yes, both Hanneman and especially Dave Lombardo were dearly missed, but Tom Araya snarled with much more fury than anyone expected, and Date’s mix gave King’s rhythm guitar added bite. The tune ably continued the rampage brought forth by “Repentless”, and briefly gave hope that Slayer could produce a great album without Jeff Hanneman.  The rest of Repentless wasn’t quite as strong, but “Take Control” at least showed that the right dose of Kerry King could still pack one hell of a punch.

I’ve seen some mixed reactions to this album, but your mileage with this album depends on how much you enjoy albums like this, or how much you enjoy straightforward thrash. I enjoy this quite a bit, but it’s not album of the year material, and it’s not a record I’ll be clamoring for people to listen to. Well, I’d recommend it if you’re a Slayer fan, or you enjoy 1980s thrash, regardless if it’s straight for the source, or from a band that has an old school influence. It won’t blow you away, but if you want that kind of sound, I think you’ll do just fine with this album. There are some solid riffs and solos from King that ultimately show why he’s one of the most influential guitarists of the 1980s thrash sound.

Let it ride

Slayer  -  Repentless

~My Metal Vinyls update 12~Slayyyaahh~