Slayer – Divine Intervention – Review

Slayer

Divine Intervention (American)
by Paul Lee

Blood, blood and more blood. Everywhere! It fills me with excitement, passion, and energy. Violence and rage are pulled from my body. The speakers spew forth the madness. The room shudders and nearly buckles under the assault. Grinding, roaring, pulsating, it blasts. This is the way. They lead me. Like some insane creature from the warped cerebrum of Lovecraft. “They” are Slayer and their unholy bit ‘o hell is entitled Divine Intervention.

Surging from their tombs. Bringing with them the ultimate hell for the meek. Torment for the wretched parents who are afraid their “good” kid will sink into insanity because of this music. These people are the sick ones. Slayer are the sanity in the madness. Darkness to release darkness. Slayer bring the rage within out, like sonic exorcists. Divine Intervention taps the vein and lets the pain and blood flow.

They spin their grim tales with insidious glee. One great one is of Jeffrey Dahmer, the brutal and twisted killing machine that makes me shake and shudder. Slayer takes us into Dahmer’s sickness with the song “213,” named after his apartment number. They do this not to revile the demon from Wisconsin, but to study him. Brutal chords grind while the rhythm pummels me into submission in traditional Slayer fashion. I can taste the insanity, but am not sick. When Dahmer’s killing was news, millions thirsted for more.

Take the track “Dittohead,” a blinding-paced mutilator. It’s a brief but deadly taste of pain and power, a look into the degradation of our society. It crushes. The video had the maniacal men of Slayer playing a claustrophobic joint. Ravenous fans were thrashing about like fish stuck with a huge hook – sheer energy, no theme, no story. “Sex, Murder, Art” brings us to another place of sickness with harsh musical consequences.

New drummer Paul Bostaph, formerly of thrashers Forbidden, has firmly taken control of the drum kit. Who needs Lombardo? Araya’s voice and bass have never sounded so harsh and adrenalizing. Same goes for King and Hanneman; their skills seem to progress while they gleefully torment me and the masses. Forget the slit-throat sounds of death metal. All hail the kings of brutality!

Power – perverse and enthralling. They wield this power with their maddening chords. A searing assault. Taking the madness of their previous monstrosities like South of Heaven and Reign in Blood, Slayer follow the same twisted path. Frightening. As they grow, their power still thrives. More, more, MORE!!! You seek peace and diversity in your mix? Take cover and cower, for the unholy ones have returned. Never weakening with time, Slayer remain as disturbing and unrelenting as ever! No young death-heads can dethrone them; they have the legions of darkness behind them.