Of the "big four" original thrash bands (the other three being Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth), Slayer was the least compromising and most consistent. As such, 2009's WORLD PAINTED BLOOD recalled more than the title of Slayer's 1986 masterpiece REIGN IN BLOOD; it shared the earlier album's ferocious aggression and trademark speed metal-meets-hardcore sound. Throughout, the sound is lean and mean, with bassist/vocalist Tom Araya's vocals mixed relatively dry and upfront, giving the album a bracing, fist-to-the-face force. Jackhammer tracks such as "Hate Worldwide" and "Psychopathy Red" are short, no muss-no fuss blasts of double kick drum, minor key-riffing fury, with an unrelenting intensity that requires little in the way of sonic or textural variation. The title track, on the other hand, is a somewhat slower dose of classic chugga-chugga head-banging which showcases Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman's shrieking, emotive guitar work. Remaining true to Slayer's defiantly old school sound, WORLD PAINTED BLOOD carried the torch for pure thrash.
