Anyone who knocks this album is full of themselves. There's definitely heavy competition from other earlier Slayer albums, but this is, by far, one of the best metal albums to come out in a long time.
The album is just ruthless. The drumming and riggage is awesome, every metal nuance, lick, passage, is played here by the masters who CREATED them. I simply couldn't believe that Slayer could get it up after all of these years, but they do and more. Listen to this album on a kickin' system, and it'll blow you away. The energy is almost as maxed out as you can get, Tom Araya sounds angrier than ever!
Slayer has definitely 'evolved', and from what I hear, this is the type of evolution that's perfectly OK with me; not like Metallica or Megadeth (I don't even bother to look for new albums from these bands anymore, it's time to move on). It sounds great, it's the GREATEST BAND IN HEAVY METAL TODAY, and possibly the greatest band in metal period. Tom Araya's vocals can be a little monotounous for the picky listener, but there's so much here, that's it's impossible to disapoint. I LOVE this album, and with so much AWFUL new metal out there, to hear music from the kings, keeping it real after all these years, is one of my most rewarding musical experiences since first listening to all of Master of Puppets and Seasons in the Abyss.
BUY THIS ALBUM. OR IF YOU'RE POOR. STEAL IT.