Warthur This is one of those Slayer albums which has taken a lot of flak over the years, but if you take a step back and take it on its own merits, putting aside Slayer's mighty legacy, it seems to me that what you've got here is a more or less OK album which any band who wasn't Slayer would have no reason to be embarrassed about.

Of course, it isn't a great album either, for reasons which have often been cited - the use of tritone crosses the line from "motif" to "gimmick", the songs all tend to bleed together and become indistinguishable, and purists might turn their nose up at the band's experiments with their sound. Our hypothetical Band Who Is Not Slayer might not be embarrassed by this album, but they wouldn't be propelled to great critical or commercial success on the back of it either. But on the whole, it is an acceptably entertaining listen. I can't say I wouldn't rather just spin Reign In Blood one and a half times instead, but that's just a fact of how awesome Reign In Blood is.

The Angry Scotsman "As experimental as Slayer got"

These are the words drummer Paul Bostaph used to describe the album. Now don't get to excited, or worried, for Slayer "experimental" isn't anything earth shattering...but for them this album is a pretty stark departure. This is why I like it best from their "dark ages" period.

Whether the band was just tired of relentlessly thrashing, or trying to cash in on the alt metal scene, "Diabolus in Musica" incorporates nu and groove metal influence. Featuring lots of heavy, (drop D) and more simplified riffing, vocal effects and "weird" guitar solos it also has lots of mid tempo, groovy riffs backed up by complimentary drumming. There is still thrash on this album, and crazy soloing, but overall it's pretty mid tempo and even the thrashy parts aren't generally as intense as usual. Heavy groove influence a la Pantera. While hardcore Slayer/thrash fans may disappointed, and I originally was, this album is a welcome change for the band and isn't too bad an album. Also, the sound quality is great. A vast improvement from the thin and horrible quality of "Divine Intervention" you can hear every note and drum hit perfectly. Even some bass!

"Bitter Peace" starts with some churning riffs and cool drumming, makes you slowly bob your head before a bassy interlude builds to some old school Slayer thrashing, tremolo picking, wild solos and double bass abound. Awesome song. "Death's Head" takes a lot of flak from fans, but I love it. A continual, churny riff and groovy off tempo drumming(!) is spaced with slower, fill heavy sections, crushing rhythms, a tremolo effect, and bass segues. Lots of variation, very cool. THIS is experimental Slayer, and it works.

"Stain of Mind" has more spidery and simple riffing, the main one is really just single note picking, with more groove drumming. Not a band song, varied enough and builds to a pretty powerful climax. "Overt Enemy" has a bassy and sample intro, really building into a doom metal type lumbering, I like it and there's really good drumming. Some points have double giving it an intense feel, cool guitar solo/rhythm parts and it all builds to a groovy thrash. More building? Yes, it appears Slayer can write songs more than just brutal thrashing! Only knock are the "effect vocals" which are annoying.

"Perversion of Pain" is a thrashier song with some of the best drumming on the album, and some parts are the most intense on the album. Vocals a little annoying, but not bad. After a good start things start to fall off with "Love to Hate" which isn't so bad, but boring. Drudges along, though it's short and some decent solos and a surprise keep it going well enough. Same can be said for "Desire" it's not bad, but a tad boring and Tom's vocals really hurt though some mid tempo thrash and pounding rhythms, also an unusual intro to kick it off.

"In the Name of God" picks things up a bit, another varied song with some thrash. The noise solos are a bit annoying. "Scrum" picks up even more. Pounding song with lots of classic Slayer thrash. "Screaming from the Sky" is a low point, very dull and uninspired by this point. Heavy effect vocals for lots of it make it almost un-listenable. "Point" kicks off strong and is packed with lots of thrash, solos, epic drumming and some breaks to keep it fresh. Great end to album.

Slayer's foray into groove metal isn't a bad outing. Much less thrash and mile a minute riffing, replaced with rhythm and groove, which is not a bad thing. Sure, much of the riffing is samey and unimpressive but technicality is not king here, and it's OK because a lot of it just sounds good and will make you groove. It's not all midtempo, and thrash is prevalent enough and well placed.

I've mentioned the drumming a lot because it's awesome, and really holds this work together. It adds the feel that is critical to this album, always fits and has bursts of madness. Paul Bostaph will never get the credit he deserves since he is not Dave Lombardo, shame because he is leagues better than Dave. Bigger shame his work was on the band's worst albums. It's great though and much like Vinnie Paul of Pantera, is what makes this album. Also like Pantera, Tom's vocals, which are a near constant top volume scream, help push the album though it can be a bit much at times, also the vocal effects were a mistake.

Underrated and relieving experiment from Slayer.

Three Stars

progshine Strange, I'm not a specialist in Slayer, but I really like them.

I've heard some of the early stuff, like Show No Mercy, Hell Awais and Reign In Blood, but, for some reason this album tells me a lot more than the early ones.

In fact I think Slayer grow up a lot, and the teenager trash metal evolves in something more, not fast all the time, sincpated, intrincated sometimes, but still very agressive. I just love Araya's bass sound and his anger voice, like if the words he's 'singing' REALLY means something to him, even if most of the songs are written by Jeff Hanneman.

Bitter Peace is for sure, one of their best songs ever, I just love that 'rush' in how Araya sing the words.

Great record, really great!!