Review by UnhinderedbyTalent for Slayer - God Hates Us All (2001)

Slayer on their 2001 offering resemble a poor man's Hatebreed only with better lead work.  Nearly all semblance of their thrash routes are lost beneath a horrible mix and as a result Araya's vocals sound like he's formed a side project hardcore band.  There's times on this that the band remind me of a marginally more laughable Biohazard, such is the style of the direction here.

It all just feels like smash n' grab, juvenile shouty music and is a massive disappointment for any longtime fan of the group.  I mean, I thought Metallica had dropped the ball post the black album but fuck me this is up there with "St Anger" as one of the all time turkeys ever recorded by an established artist.  The frenzied pace is still most definitely there and the aggression that sits behind too is just as familiar, it is just somehow completely off in terms of the delivery.

I can see how younger listeners would enjoy it more than a seasoned thrasher would as somehow it retains an air of accessibility throughout but then again it also reeks of a band trying too hard to stay relevant.