Slayer 'World Painted Blood,' Wolfmother 'Cosmic Egg,' WASP 'Babylon' CD Reviews

Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 11:42 Written by Jason Satterfield, Gus Griesinger, Dee Haley Wednesday, 25 November 2009 00:58

     The wait is finally over. After numerous delays, the latest opus from metal legends Slayer, World Painted Blood, has been unleashed. The band offered fans a taste of the CD back in April when they released the first single “Psychopathy Red” to coincide with “Record Store Day.” I’m sure the six-and-a-half month wait felt like an eternity for  many  hardcore Slayer fans. It’s fairly obvious what you’re going to get with a new Slayer CD, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, like saying AC/DC writes the same album over and over. You’re guaranteed pummeling riffs and frantic solos, insane drumming with plenty of double-bass, hellish vocals, and lyrical topics that most bands won’t touch. Ah, good ol’ Slayer, we can always count on you for some brutally honest metal.
    What often sets Slayer apart from their contemporaries in the “Big Four” is that they know how to get down to business without goofing around. They come out of the corner, fists blazing, and go straight for your chin. There are no eight-minute epics full of mish-mashed riffs, overtly cheesy lyrics or straying into musical territory where they don’t belong. The longest song on the album is the title track, which also opens the disc, clocking in just shy of six minutes. The thrash kicks in full speed after a minute-long intro, yet it’s the breakdown around the four-minute mark that showcases the beauty of being heavy without just playing fast. On the other hand, “Unit 731”, is 2:40 of pure speed, and just might be my favorite song on the disc. If you’re bored at work, Google “Unit 731” and you’ll know what I meant by lyrical subjects that are taboo for most bands. Other stand-out tracks include the Kerry King shred fest “Snuff”, the afore-mentioned “Psychopathy Red”, and the creepy-yet-melodic “Playing With Dolls”, which gives us a chance to hear Tom Araya actually sing.
While it’s doubtful that Slayer will ever give us another Reign In Blood or Seasons In The Abyss,  World Painted Blood is an admirable effort. It’s a return to form for Slayer, much more so than its predecessor Christ Illusion,  and probably the best CD they’ve released since Divine Intervention. I’m really looking forward to hearing some of these songs live on the ‘American Carnage’ tour in a couple months.

Review by Jason Satterfield

     Australia’s Wolfmother just released there sophomore effort Cosmic Egg. The band has gone through major changes since their initial release Wolfmother in 2005. They have gone from a trio to a quartet with original bassist & keyboardist  Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett being replaced by Dave Atkins  (drums), Ian Perres (Keyboards and bass) and Aidan Smith (guitar.)
The catchy “New Moon Rising”  is a sure attention grabber and is very reminiscent of a continuation of a song off their debut CD. The hard driving “Sundial” has everything you’re looking for;  in your face guitars, hard pounding bass and drums, and an abundance of keys splattered all over. It’s the most complete song and the gem of the CD. Stockdale’s voice is very “Lennonesque” on “In the Morning” and “Far Away.”  Both tunes have an overall Beatles vibe to it.  “In the Castle” takes you to another place by the way of extended jams and trippy vocals.
    The neo psychedelic quartet led by Stockdale did a commendable job considering all the transformations that went on in the band. Overall, an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ type of attitude is very prevalent in the sound of the CD.  Cosmic Egg is a carbon copy of the first.

Review by Gus Griesinger

     W.A.S.P. is heavy metal band that hit the Los Angeles music scene in 1982. Although band's popularity peaked in the 1980s, they continue to record and tour.  Their latest CD 'Babylon' is the band's 14th album.  Frontman Blackie Lawless (lead vocals, guitars and keyboards), is the only member from the original line-up. He is joined by Doug Blair (rhythm and lead guitar), Mike Duda (vocals and bass) and Mike Dupke (drums).
    The album cover depicts "The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse".  The first track "Crazy" begins to unleash the fury of the cover.  Heavy guitar riffs get your horses running and then the unmistakable voice of Blackie Lawless chimes in.  The sound of 80's rock prevails throughout the CD, making this album already sound classic. Seven (7) of the nine (9) tracks were written by Blackie Lawless.  There are also two cover tunes.  Deep Purple's "Burn" and Chuck Berry's "Promised Land."  The covers fit perfectly with the overall theme of the CD and both are executed quite well.  I think Chuck Berry would be proud!
    Lawless remains true to himself and his fans as the songs on this CD, as well as previous releases, are artfully themed.  This theme is biblical and apocalyptic in nature.  As I remember, that's pretty common for W.A.S.P. Lawless's lyrics are thought provoking and not quite obvious, but he certainly belts them out loud and clear.  "Thunder Red" is the slowest track on the CD, but is hard driving and could easily stand up to the tracks on previous albums like 'The Last Command.'   
    This biblical themed soundscape takes the listener from "Babylon's Burning" to the "Promised Land."  It's quite a journey and remains distinctively W.A.S.P.  If you dig the 80's sound, this CD is one for the collection.

Review by Dee Haley