String rippin’, chord chugging, speed metalists, Slayer have released details about their upcoming release, World Painted Blood –- and the specifics border between exciting and foreboding. Founding member, Kerry King was quoted in Billboard.com, saying, “I figured, and I’m sure the other guys figured, that if there was another five year gap this would be our last record. I think we didn’t want to wait that long…”
Perhaps I’m taking the quote out of context, but it’s apparent that there may be an underlying story of a band that may or may not be on the brinks of a cataclysmic breakup. Regardless of potentially unfounded omens, Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman nearly split songwriting duties equally with King penning six and Hanneman writing seven. Anyone familiar with this band’s music will know the difference between the two men’s styles, as explained by King, “A lot of Jeff’s stuff has a very punky vibe this time; the stuff I write sounds thrashy but with a hint of punk, and when Jeff writes the stuff is more punk with a hint of thrash. It works well together.”
The band has been consistent throughout the years, producing metal anthems time and again. World Painted Blood is only Slayer’s tenth album, which may indicate a meticulous creative process that inevitably produces solid work. The latest effort is also the first time that the band entered a studio without original material already hashed out. The album will consist of thirteen tracks, of which the following has been confirmed: “Psychopathy Red”, “Beauty Through Order”, “Unit 731”, “Playing With Dolls”, “Public Display of Dismemberment”, “Americon”, “World Painted Blood”.
The album was recorded in two months from January to March with Greg Fidelman (Metallica, Slipknot, The (International) Noise Conspiracy) –- a producer recommended by the legendary Rick Rubin –- a steadfast collaborator of musicians who seek his hand in highlighting their musical and creative prowess. Recommendations like that are not only notable but also enticing to any fan of Slayer. A release date has not been set, however, the band suggests a “late summer” drop. In the meantime, you can find these headbanging maniacs touring across North America, and Europe before returning to the States in January of 2010.
Slayer 2009 Tour Dates:
07/10 – Wheatland, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre
07/11 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
07/12 – San Bernardino, CA @ Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion
07/14 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
07/17 – Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Wireless Pavilion
07/18 – Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion
07/19 – Denver, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
07/21 – Kansas City, MO @ Sandstone Amphitheater
07/22 – St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
07/24 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
07/25 – Noblesville, IN @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
07/26 – Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
07/29 – Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
07/31 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center Stadium
08/02 – Clarkstown, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theater
08/04 – Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center
08/06 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Virginia Beach Amphitheatre
08/07 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
08/08 – Hartford, CT @ New England Dodge Music Center
08/09 – Washington, DC @ Nissan Pavilion
08/11 – Tampa, FL @ Ford Amphitheater
08/12 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre
08/14 – Selma, TX @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
08/15 – Dallas-FT Worth, TX @ Superpages.com Center
08/28 – Kreuth, DE @ Wacken Rocks South
08/29 – Aurich, DE @ Wacken Rocks Seaside