This had to be a metal monster like no other. Not that they've faltered once in their career, but with the changing climates and metal, - extreme/true metal - on a violent upswing, one of the true kingpins of the genre needed to retain the title and cast away all the pretenders to the throne with an album that summed up all their glorious majesty. And most certainly Slayer have passed the test, yet Christ Illusion and all its sacrilegious imagery and intent isn't the ace in the hole we all hoped and craved for, given that their current scenery is set up with perfection. The drum tornado Dave Lombardo is back after a long 16 year departure and they've had five years to create the follow-up to God Hates Us All. Their chops are sharpened with plenty of reunited road miles, currently on the unstoppable Unholy Alliance tour. And no doubt, Christ Illusion puts the band in a precarious position ... deliver Reign/Seasons part II or reinvent/lead the scene like they've done most of their career. Sadly the latter hasn't fully materialized. And you know reading these pages for years we've prayed at the 'alter of sacrifice’ - clearly Slayer are the most consistent metal band on the planet, bar none. So on 06.06.06 we were greeted at hell's gate (and online) with 'Cult' (featured on the taster EP Eternal Pyre), a barely passable example of their wares by the thrash titans. The foursome saw more publicity on that day given that parts of the metal world embraced it as National Slayer Day. Well, the flag was half-mast. The ten track comeback retains a bit more credibility with punked-up pit-punishments such as 'Catalyst', 'Consfearacy' and lead-off thrasher 'Flesh Storm' which is an updated, albeit weaker tribute to 'War Ensemble'. 'Skeleton Christ' and the holy war-controversial 'Jihad' (with its Angus Young-like intro!) are seething and psychotic. Pretty much tops on this beast is the closer 'Supremist', a near-gripping finale that's cut short; the band finding a memorable, relentless groove. Yet the "comeback story" halts abruptly. Undoubtedly this is a Kerry King record, with smatterings of Jeff Hanneman strewn about. And this is perhaps its shortcoming, with King's need for speed nudging out Hanneman's more epic, towering ethic. Lombardo does his job admirably with brilliant precision which ultimately keeps this juggernaut in motion. But that's the saddening fact, he's forced to nod instead of bringing fresh ideas to the table. Alas, frontman Tom Araya remains that lone voice of torture in the metal wilderness. He speaks and you stand at attention. When he roars, his volcanic fury bellows forth and you run for cover. Even when Slayer aren't on their A-game, it's still appeasing to watch them play.