Slayer - God Hates Us All
2001 Def American
by Horatio

Quick Summary:
When this first saw daylight in 2001 I wrote a scathing review denouncing it as shit basically and claimed Slayer were done. How wrong I was. I have come to appreciate this as a masterpiece of latter day thrash, easily on a par with anything Slayer had done previously. The whole band sounds angrier than they did on 1998's 'Diabolus In Musica' (excellent in its own right) and Kerry King's lyrics make for laugh out loud reading.

The thrash quotient on 'Diabolus In Musica' was restricted to only four tracks, whereas here almost every song is infused with healthy dosages of speed. Many complained about the excessive use of profanity, previously an aspect (almost) absent in Slayer's music, but to hear the word 'fuck' used 28 times in 'Payback' is almost hysterical as the music is vicious enough to compliment the lyrics. This merely reconfirmed Slayer as the only worthwhile exponents of thrash leftover from the 80's, although Metallica have made a claim for themselves with the brute force of 'St Anger'. For a group of men in their forties now Slayer still make it sound convincing and not forced. Tough as nails, this is essential.

Website:  www.slayer.net

Song Summaries:

1. Disciple- Typically staunch thrash opener that really takes off after the classic line 'god hates us all, yeah he fuckin hates me!'. The manner in which Araya delivers this is priceless. Another vintage King lyric (among dozens) is 'I'm waiting for the day this world fucking dies', while 'I hate everyone equally, you can't tear that out of me' also raises a smile.  A
2. God Send Death - A veritable treat as Slayer reach the heights of 'Reign in Blood' during the trade solo segments between King and Hanneman.  The relentless nature of the breakdown is proof these guys had lost nothing.  Pure thrash.  A
3. New Faith - Another bible bashing anthem that tones down the speed but never relents, as King's crusade against Christianity continues.  B
4. Cast Down - A masterclass of vintage songwriting from King as he explores homelessness and drug use with a line that should be immortalized - 'America - home of the free - land of fucking disenchantment'.  Once again, not a thrasher but intense lyrically with the usual twisted guitar work and raging Araya vocals.  'The system's failing you, just the way it failed me'.  Too right Kerry.  A
5. Threshold - Yet another verbal war from King - 'can't stop the violence, I love it' - he writes.  Something's gone wrong with King, I love it.  He's crazy as all of us.  A
6. Exile - Full on rage, a pummeling thrash assault courtesy King, who beats Anselmo hands down for hilarious use of words.  Slayer were always more convincing than Pantera anyway.  Another unbeatable line reads 'Get out of my face - get out of my life, Out of my fucking way - just die!'  A
7. Seven Faces - Slow to start but picks up gradually as King's tormented psyche surfaces yet again.  B
8. Bloodline - Recognized as a classic by many, with some furiously chugging riffs that shows you don't always need speed to stun, just basic heavy metal, with a great passage around the 2.25 mark.  B+
9. Deviance - In the grand tradition of '213' and 'Desire' comes another morbid tale of necrophilia that, gasp!, has Araya's name in the lyrics department!  Is this all he can conjure these days?  Almost unbearable in it's mid-paced bludgeon, lyrics like 'skinned alive, now naked' don't help much, except to initiate torrents of laughter.  D
10. Warzone - A case of the song taking the title literally, this is a maniacal thrasher with riffs so insane it defies logic and comprehension.  Only Slayer can make it sound so sick and ugly.  Indispensable!  A+
11. Here Comes The Pain - Similarly structured to 'Bloodline', with slower segments interspersed with brief raging torrents.  B
12. Payback - Three minutes of utter chaos as only Slayer can accomplish.  Amidst the barrage of lyrical hate are the classic Hanneman/King riffs, with Bostaph knocking the crap out of his kit.  I seriously wonder who King's hate is directed to here.  It's almost unparalleled.  A right thrash zone!  A+

Average Song Rating:  A-
Overall Album Rating:  A

Also be sure to read:
Slayer - Christ Illusion by Skin Splitter & Horatio
Slayer - Decade Of Aggression by Horatio
Slayer - Diabolus In Musica by Horatio
Slayer - Divine Intervention by Horatio
Slayer - Reign In Blood by Horatio
Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss by Uncle Meat
Slayer - Show No Mercy by Uncle Meat & Shev
Slayer - Undisputed Attitude by Horatio
Fantômas - Suspended Animation by Lamp
Grip Inc. - The Power of Inner Strength by Horatio
Straight To Hell:  A Tribute To Slayer by Shev

Discography (last updated 8.29.06):
Show No Mercy - 1983
Haunting The Chapel EP - 1984
Live Undead - 1984
Hell Awaits - 1985
Reign In Blood - 1986
South Of Heaven - 1988
Seasons In The Abyss - 1990
Decade Of Aggression - 1991
Divine Intervention - 1994
Live Intrusion EP - 1995
Serenity In Murder EP - 1995
split 7" with T.S.O.L. - 1996
Undisputed Attitude - 1996
Diabolus In Musica - 1998
Ubernoise:  The Interview - 1998
God Hates Us All - 2001
Soundtrack To The Apocalypse box - 2003
Christ Illusion - 2006
Cult 7" single - 2006
Eternal Pyre EP - 2006