There’s no denying that old cliche pertaining to death and taxes, but they sure ain’t the only inevitability.
Equally inevitable is the likelihood of severe cranial damage, including blood from the nose and ears, upon listening to American speed thrash metal pioneers Slayer.
The band’s forthcoming longplayer, Repentless, is an exercise in complete sonic brutality - barbaric hyper-punk infused with blistering fretboard ferocity, blasting drums and a hate-fuelled vocal delivery that will have fans frothing like a rabid militia.
This is classic Slayer, at the top of their game and showing the finesse for their craft you’d expect, at some 30-plus years after they crushed their first skull.
Of course, there is a big difference between this and all other releases from the band. It is the first without axeman, songwriter and band co-founder Jeff Hanneman who died from a protracted illness in 2013.
Shortly after in-again-out-again drummer Dave Lombardo decided to leave the fold for a third time in the band’s history.
Remaining members, Tom Araya and Kerry King were left with a decision, to boldly continue — as they now agree Jeff would have wanted — or to call it quits.
Drummer Paul Bostaph, who had previously served with the band from 1992 to 2001, was re-recruited, and great mate Gary Holt from Exodus was asked to join the fold.
A brief tour ensued and it was clear, there was only one way ... forward.
Repentless was recorded at Henson Studios in Los Angeles with Terry Date producing.
Continuing the firsts, it was the first time the band had stepped away from working with producer Rick Rubin, after leaving his American Records label in favour of Germany’s Nuclear Blast.
Whether driven by pressure to exceed expectations and prove that there was still much life in the band despite the losses, or simply because they’ve got their shit down pat, Tom and Kerry have written a Slayer album to rival some of the band’s most memorable works.
Balls-out tracks like Atrocity Vendor, Implode and Repentless are simply visceral, packing more than enough knockout blows to clear a room full of non-believers twice over.
Of course as well as the frenetic, Slayer are every bit as menacing when pulling back the pace a notch.
Tracks like When The Stillness Comes, Cast The First Stone and Piano Wire are a whole other level of brutal.
Standout track on first and subsequent listens is beyond doubt Chasing Death.
While Reign In Blood will forever be the yardstick by which all Slayer albums are judged, Repentless is certainly shades of other glories like Seasons In The Abyss and Divine Intervention.
Beautifully dark and stunning in its delivery, this is one album all self-respecting metal brothers and sisters need.
Repentless is in stories on Friday, September 11.
