Slayer - Christ Illusion
Review: Somewhat of a return to form, this album shows Slayer trying to mix the styles of Diabolus in Musica with older material in the vein of Divine Intervention and Seasons in the Abyss.
The result is a rushing linebacker assault of fast chord changes and slamming, skid-stop rhythms announcing the return of drummer Dave Lombardo, who knows how to seat an offtime phrase within a dead-mans-hand cadence, then top it off with a fill that crushes its own rhythmic expectation with a structure like the silent falling of buildings under a nuclear shockwave. From newer albums, Slayer keep the jaunty bounce and two-chord rhythm riffs, but into it they adroitly mix their older lead guitar fills, chaotic solos and song structures that seem displaced by internal earthquakes.
1. Flesh Storm (4:16) 
2. Catalyst (3:09)
3. Skeleton Christ (3:25)
4. Eyes of the Insane (3:32)
5. Jihad (3:30)
6. Consfearacy (3:09)
7. Catatonic (4:53)
8. Black Serenade (2:58)
9. Cult (4:42)
10. Supremist (3:51)
Near-quotations from older riffs and solos pop up periodically. It's a difficult balance, trying to keep older fans happy while adding the contemporary rock/metal hybrid known as "nu-metal," but Slayer pull it off as well as anyone can.