As stated, it's easy to argue for ages about whether Christ Illusion or World Painted Blood is the best post-1990 Slayer album. It doesn't really matter, because the fact is that they are both great releases. There are three reasons why Christ Illusion is higher on this list: it's faster, it's weirder, and it was the first real sign of the band's exciting return to form. It is interesting that so many critics have compared this album to Reign In Blood, the band's most infamous release, as the two albums actually start with a unbelievably similar riff. In fact, given that this album signalled the return of the original lineup, the band's homage to their defining moment comes across as brilliantly self-conscious. The opening lyric of the track, Flesh Storm, is "Take a deep breath 'cause it all starts now" - a mission statement from Araya and his band of extreme monsters reminding their fans that Slayer is back and ready to fight its way out of the corner it had painted itself into. The two stand-out tracks are undoubtedly the album's most controversial moments. Jihad, from the perspective of a terrorist, opens with the creepiest riff and hi-hat combination in the history of thrash metal before the rest of the band comes crunching in aggressively and brilliantly twisted guitar parts that could be lifted straight from South Of Heaven come swirling in. Cult starts even more slowly, with Slayer absolutely showing an interest in pushing their sound in new but terrifying directions. There is no need for down-tuned guitars here. Only mayhem and nastiness. Slayer may never achieve the lofty heights of their classic period again, but with Christ Illusion and WPB they prove that there remains a space for their output in the contemporary metal scene. Let's just hope that they don't live to regret letting Lombardo leave again.
