Slayer Temporarily Replaces Jeff Hanneman

Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman was recently bit by a spider on tour and has contracted an illness. Being the workhorses that they are, Slayer will not stop their current tour while he recovers. The band announced that Exodus guitarist Gary Holt will temporarily fill-in for Hanneman for the rest of their Australian tour.

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett was once a member of Exodus, FYI.

Today's Must See Music Video

Today's video features a performance by SLAYER on the Henry Rollins Show in 2007. The band performs "Cult."

Slayer On the Verge of Releasing New Album

(antimusic) For nearly three decades, bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and drummer Dave Lombardo have proven over and over, whether in the studio or on the concert stage, that there is Slayer and then there's everyone else. And they're about to do it again, first with the band's co-headline spot on this summer's Mayhem Festival, and then with the late summer release of their ninth studio album, World Painted Blood (American Recordings/Columbia Records).

Some dozen new songs comprise World Painted Blood which was recorded in Los Angeles over two time periods, during October 2008 and then between late January and March 2009. World Painted Blood was produced by Greg Fidelman, who's spent time in the studio with Metallica, the Gossip, the (International) Noise Conspiracy, Slipknot and others, and executive produced by long-time Slayer colleague, Rick Rubin, who suggested Fidelman for the project.

Recording World Painted Blood was a unique experience for Slayer who has historically begun the recording process with all songs written and fully rehearsed. This time, in part to make sure they could work with Fidelman, they had ideas, but did the bulk of writing and song development while in the studio. "Writing in the studio was a new idea for Slayer," said Fidelman. "I think the fact that the songs were still new and fresh to them, and they hadn't been playing them for six months in rehearsal, kept the vibe and excitement in the studio very high."

"There are two principal music writers in this band, so you're going to get a combination of speed and heaviness," said Araya. "Kerry's writing is really aggressive and fast, while Jeff likes things to be fast, but with melodies and grooves. In making this album, we seemed to share the same vision from song ideas to titles; when we get together as Slayer, it just happens, nothing is contrived, it's not thought out, we just do it, and we did that with this new album."

The band members agree that Hanneman set a tone for the album early on. "Jeff's coming in so early with three new songs really added an energy that got us all going," said Lombardo, "and combined with what Greg brought to the equation, everything just fell into place and moved quickly. We had a great chemistry.

"On this album," continued Lombardo, "Jeff's gone back to this great punk energy, especially with 'Psychopathy Red.'"

The track "Psychopathy Red" was inspired by the heinous Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, aka the Rostov Ripper, who confessed to brutally murdering 56 children. "Psychopathy Red" had leaked onto the Internet well before November 2008 and has been streamed more than a half-million times since; it was released as a limited edition, blood-red vinyl 7-inch in April for Record Store Day.

"The new music has an '80s vibe to it, and I think that's because of the way we wrote it," said King. We were together during the writing process more than we had been before, and while my name will be on the songs I wrote, and Jeff's will be on the ones he wrote, there was a lot of interaction between us while the songs were taking shape."

Adds Lombardo, "On this record, we worked a lot more collectively, we were more attentive to each other's ideas and willing to try them, which only benefited the album. I'm really excited about the new album because of its diversity, the different elements that all of us contributed to it. And that includes Greg Fidelman who brought the band out of its normalcy, he got a lot out of us. We tapped into some new drum rhythms and new guitar riffs, and some really exciting music developed in the Slayer camp."

King, a close friend of the late "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, had the guitarist's guitar in the studio during some of the recording (although he didn't use it it during the sessions), still with the same strings that were on it the last time Dimebag played it. "The one thing that made me look at my lead playing a little differently was when Dimebag passed away," revealed King. "Not that I'm going to fill Dime's shoes because nobody can do that, but I paid more attention to my leads while recording this album. I wanted to make them more memorable in memory of Dime."

As World Painted Blood is a Slayer album, it deals with topics such as death and destruction, war, serial killers, and the Apocalypse. In addition to "Psychopathy Red," other tracks on World Painted Blood include "Beauty Through Order" (King: "one of Jeff's songs, it has a very heavy 'do me' intro to it then explodes with a really cool vibe,") "Unit 731," "Playing With Dolls" (Dave: an awesome track, great song structure, great vibe"), "Public Display of Dismemberment," and "Americon," a King composition. King explains, "It's about what I think the rest of the world thinks of America. We may not be big on a lot of people's lists, but I don't care what you think of my government, of my economy, or whatever. I live here and this is one of the best places that I've ever found to live. So f*#k you if you don't like it."

This summer's Mayhem Festival will mark the second time that Slayer and Marilyn Manson have co-headlined a tour together. "I had fun when we toured with Manson two years ago," said King. "Manson's a friend of mine and Twiggy's [Ramirez] back in the band, so it can only be that much better. We'll probably play two new songs, 'Psychopathy Red' being one of them - not sure what the other one will be. And, I'm curious to see Manson's set, I love watching him play because there's always something going on. It's going to be a great summer tour, a lot of fun for everyone."

Six Gold albums, three Grammy nominations and two wins, and countless other awards including being named "Best Live Band" in Revolver, SPIN, and Metal Hammer...after nearly 30 years, what is it about Slayer that continues to connect them with consecutive generations? Fidelman explains it this way: "Each guy has to be here for this to be Slayer. Individually, they are all really good at what they do, but when you put them in a room together, it creates something really unique - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. What those parts are, I'm still not sure, but when when you hear it, you know it."

Re-Interpreting Slayer

This is pretty funny!

Slayer on Jimmy Kimmel

Just heard that Slayer will be appearing this Friday night on Jimmy Kimmel. Set those DVRs!

Dark Stuff's Top 20 Albums of 2006

I know you've been clamoring for it. What will he pick for best album of the year? Well, here are your answers, friends. For this posting, I give you 20-11. The Top 10 will come in another day or so. Just deal, OK. I have included links to the bands' MySpace page (if they have one) or official website. That way, you can actually listen to the band if one of these descriptions sounds appealing and you aren't already familiar with them. I will also be doing a podcast featuring the best of 2006, so make sure to keep checking back for that!

20) MATTHEW SWEET & SUSANNA HOFFS - Under the Covers Vol. 1 (Shout Factory)
Under the Covers Vol. 1 was a real surprise when I first got it. I am only a moderate Matthew Sweet fan (love the Girlfriend album, obviously), and it has been a long time since I've listened to Susanna Hoff's old band, The Bangles. But I always liked Susanna's voice, and I figure she could sing just about anything and it would sound pretty good. So when Sweet and Hoffs got together to make an album, I was interested, but not overly so. Thankfully, the record is fantastic. The duo recorded a number of sixties classics from the artists that obviously inspired them to become musicians themselves (i.e. The Byrds, The Beatles). Their voices blend together remarkably well. For a covers record, it doesn't get much better than this. Stand out tracks: "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" "Different Drum" (which also features Linda Ronstadt) and "Cinnamon Girl."

Artist MySpace page: www.myspace.com/sidnsusie

19) FILM SCHOOL - Film School (Beggars Banquet)
This new San Francisco guitar band impressed the hell out of me with their new self-titled album, Film School. These guys obviously are inspired by many of the classic 80s alternative bands like The Cure, Love and Rockets and The Cult (think Love-era), but they are by no means a throwback or retro band. Film School is able to add a new, 21st century twist to the sounds of those classic bands, and they also add a ton more guitar! Also, there are also some interesting lyrics in the songs which seems to be a rare commodity in today's "alternative" music world. Stand Out Tracks: "11:11" "Harmed" and "He's a Deep Deep Lake"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/filmschool

18) THE RAPTURE - Pieces of the People We Love (Universal)
I was never a huge fan of The Rapture's earlier CDs. I just didn't understand what the big deal was. As far as danceable punk rock goes, I consider myself a Faint guy. So I guess the reason I liked the new Rapture CD so much more than the others is that they are no longer really a "dance punk" band. Rather than sounding like a punk band playing dance music, The Rapture now sounds like a dance band playing punk. The songs are all insanely catchy, the lyrics often sarcastic attacks at scenesters who are afraid to dance, and the production values have been taken up a notch on this one. The band also scores big points with their roller skating themed video for "Get Myself Into It." Stand out tracks: "Get Myself Into It" "Whoo! Alright - Yeah...Uh Huh" and "Don Gon Do It"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/therapture

17) YO LA TENGO - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass (Matador)
Yo La Tengo wins the award for strangest album of title of the year, no question. I tried to get more information about the provocative title from band leader Ira Kaplan when I interviewed him, but he would not budge. None of the songs reveal anything about it either, so I guess it will have to remain a mystery. Any Yo La Tengo record is a complex artistic statement, but I Am Not Afraid... might exceed any of their previous records in terms of eclecticism. The band is all over the place on this one: droning psychedelia, 60s pop, garage rock, low-fi noise, and even falsetto singing! It's pretty impressive that after more than 20 years, Yo La Tengo is still so inspired and so varied in their approach. A great addition to their already stellar legacy. Stand Out Tracks: "Mr. Tough" "Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind" and "The Room Got Heavy"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/yolatengo
Official Website: yolatengo.com

16) SECRET MACHINES - Ten Silver Drops (Reprise)
Calling Secret Machines a psychedelic blues band might be a touch misleading, but I really can't think of any other way to describe their sound. Perhaps that is why Secret Machines have not been able to crack the mainstream...no one knows how to describe their sound! In a perfect world, these songs would be all over the radio rather than Justin Timberlake or Hinder. But we don't live in that perfect world, so in order to hear one of the best bands (so far) of the 21st century, you will just have to pick up a Secret Machines CD. There is more of a melancholy vibe on Ten Silver Drops, so don't pop it on before going to a party. It is better for after the party when you have had a few. Stand Out Tracks: "Alone Jealous and Stoned" "Lightning Blue Eyes" and "All At Once (It's Not Important)"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/secretmachines
Official Website: thesecretmachines.com

15) CAT POWER - The Greatest (Matador)
Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) is a difficult woman to figure out. If you listen to her all covers album (creatively titled The Covers Record), you get a decent idea of who has influenced her musically, but not really how that fits into her current sound. At least that was the case prior to The Greatest. Marshall has always confessed a fondness for classic 60s soul music, so this time around she decided to make her album in Memphis with some of the musicians who played on many of the classic records she grew up listening to. The result isn't exactly soul music, per se, but whatever it is, it is really good. Marshall utilizes more straightforward musical arrangements this time around, and her singing is more direct and less quirky than on previous albums. Again, I like this new "mature" sound from her, despite many longtime fans expressing disappointment with this record. If you have never heard Cat Power before, this might be a good place to start. You can always go backwards later. Stand Out Tracks: "Love and Communication" "Living Proof" and "Lived In Bars."

Artist MySpace page: www.myspace.com/catpower
Matador Records' Cat Power page: www.matadorrecords.com/cat_power/

14) THOM YORKE - The Eraser (XL)
If you are already a Radiohead fan, and you like the Amnesiac / Kid A period from the band, then you will have some idea what to expect on the first ever solo album from band leader Thom Yorke. Critics have been mixed about the album, but I think it is a great record and may be better than those two aforementioned albums. Yorke works with Radiohead's producer Nigel Goodrich on the record, and at times, it sounds like these songs are demos for a future Radiohead album. I have long since given up hoping Radiohead would return to their classic The Bends or OK Computer sound. It ain't gonna happen. So this is likely to be how Radiohead will sound in the future. Stand Out Tracks: "Black Swan" "Harrowdown Hill" and "Cymbal Rush"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/theeraser
Official Website: www.theeraser.net

13) SLAYER - Christ Illusion (American)
It has been over five years since the last Slayer album was released and the world has changed a lot since then. Slayer, however, remains the same. That is a good thing. As is the case with most Slayer albums, the band heavily targets religion (all religions) with their lyrics on Christ Illusion. The album is as brutal as ever. By this time, you already know if you are a fan of this band or not. They are not like Metallica who have mellowed over time. Slayer has actually gotten heavier. There is one song in particular that I am surprised has not generated more controversy. The song "Jihad" is written about 9/11 from the terrorists' perspective. I couldn't imagine trying to get inside the heads of those scumbags, but Slayer has managed to do it. Pretty scary stuff. Stand Out Tracks: "Cult" "Flesh Storm" and "Jihad"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/slayer

12) THE MARS VOLTA - Amputechture (Universal)
I think I finally "get it" with The Mars Volta. I borrowed the first two Mars Volta CDs from a friend a while back, and I could not stand it. It was all over the freakin' place! Just when the band would lock into something I liked (a cool riff, a great bass line etc), they would pull a 180 and start doing something completely different. This might have happened three or four times in the same song! There is still a little of that on the new album, but the songs are so solid, and the playing so spectacular, that the "busy-ness" of the arrangements is easy to overlook. The band still frequently sings in Spanish, still writes the occasional ten minute song, and still packs about 40 ideas into each tune, but this time it works. Stand out tracks: "Viscera Eyes" "Vermicide" and "Meccamputechture"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/themarsvolta
Official Website: The Mars Volta.com

11) EAGLES OF DEATH METAL - Death By Sexy (Downtown)
Usually a side project band would never make it this high in any Best Of list from me. But when the band is a side project of Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, I guess a new precedent can be set. While there are elements of QOTSA in the Eagles, EODM sound more like a garage rock version of classic ZZ Top. I'm talking the "Tush" era of ZZ Top, not the MTV version from the 80s. There are also elements of T. Rex and even New York Dolls in the sound. The lyrics are mostly comical, and cover typical 70s concepts like avoiding jailbait and keeping your buzz. This is a fun and rockin' album despite what Axl Rose thinks. Stand Out Tracks: "I Gotta Feeling (Just Nineteen)" "I Want You So Hard" and "Cherry Cola"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/eaglesofdeathmetal

Slayer's 'Christ Illusion': "Fucking Brutal!"

I picked up the new Slayer CD last night. Fucking brutal! The disc is called Christ Illusion,(click to buy) and most of the songs deal with the usual Slayer topics: war ("Consfearacy"), anti-Christianity ("Skeleton Christ"), and violence ("Catalyst"). The first single, "Cult" is a pretty harsh attack on all religion. They certainly will not be playing at the next Republican convention.

There is one exception to the usual Slayer subject matter on the new one. The song "Jihad" appears to be about the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The Slayer twist is that they write the song from the terrorists' perspective. This will certainly get them some attention from the Sean Hannitys and Bill O'Reillys of the world. I would love to see Kerry King face off with Hannity. That would be a great visual.

King writes most of the songs on Christ Illusion which is a little different for Slayer. Also, the songs are much shorter than on more recent Slayer records. I listened to the record about three times right after buying it. It's a totally solid album. I hope they play in Omaha on this next tour.

The YouTube video here is of Slayer on The Henry Rollins Show from a few weeks ago. They are playing "Cult."


Tag: Slayer

How Is This Even Possible? Slayer and Stryper as Co-Headliners?

(Metal Sludge) German power metal band EDGUY and the legendary American death metal band DEICIDE have been confirmed to perform on the main stage of the third edition of the Monterrey Metal Fest, set to take place Saturday, September 23, 2006 at the Coca Cola Auditorium in the city of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

SLAYER and STRYPER will co-headline the event, which is being billed as "Hell and Heaven United". The concert promises to be the "biggest and baddest version yet," featuring eight of the biggest names in heavy metal music from all over the world on the main stage and 12 up-and-coming international and Mexican bands on the second stage.

The official festival pre-party will be held on Friday, September 22, 2006 at the Cafe Iguana with mini-sets from bands that will be performing on the festival's main stage and second stage.

The main-stage lineup is shaping up as follows, with more bands to be confirmed:

SLAYER
STRYPER
EDGUY
DEICIDE
WARCRY



Tag: Slayer

No One Is As Hard as Slayer

Just listened to the new Slayer single, "Cult" (released 6.6.06) on Napster. Jeeesus! That song was brutal. The song is an extremely harsh indictment of religion, in general, and Christianity, in particular. The kind of stuff that could cause riots in some countries. Luckily, no cartoons were involved. Can't wait to hear the rest of the album.

Tag: Slayer

Today Is the Day - 6.6.06

Today is the day we have all been waiting for: The National Day of Slayer!! The organizers of the holiday have set this as the agenda for the day:

* Listen to Slayer at full blast in your car.
* Listen to Slayer at full blast in your home.
* Listen to Slayer at full blast at your place of employment.
* Listen to Slayer at full blast in any public place you prefer.

DO NOT use headphones! The objective of this day is for everyone within earshot to understand that it is the National Day of Slayer. National holidays in America aren't just about celebrating; they're about forcing it upon non-participants.

For those who do not have any Slayer in their music collection (shame on you), I have provided a little something so you, too, can participate.

Slayer - Behind the Crooked Cross.mp3

This song comes from the band's South of Heaven album. It seemed appropriate. Now go celebrate!

Tag: Slayer