SLAYER ”DIABOLUS IN MUSICA” (METALIZED, #37, 1998)

Translation from Danish to English. The article was published in Metalized #37 (1998). The pictures and music in the article was added by me.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE MUSIC

Slayer is back on the thrash throne with the new masterpiece ”Diabolus in Musica"

Slayer is and will remain the kings of thrash metal! The boys have been around for a good 17 years and have long since secured a place in the metal music "hall of fame", but unlike other early starters like Metallica and Megadeth, they have never sat back on their laurels and watched newer bands overtake them. I can't say that Slayer is better than ever here in 1998, because there is still a little thing called "Reign in Blood" spoiling that opportunity, but the new album "Diabolus in Musica" is indisputably the most sublime the boys have produced in the last 8 years - and the best thrash album since Machine Head's "Burn My Eyes"! In any case, Slayer is an institution in the scene, so I see no reason to spend precious space on outlining the band's history. Instead, I'll dive straight into a little interview I did over the phone with the band's returning drummer, Paul Bostaph, in late May.

LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE ALBUM ON YOUTUBE HERE!

BACK IN THE FOLD
Paul joined Slayer in late '91, when the band's original drummer Dave Lombardo left to the right. The old Forbidden drummer managed to play on 1994's "Divine Intervention" and 1996's punk cover album "Undisputed Attitude", before he decided to say goodbye and seek new (underwater) pastures with his own band The Truth About Seafood, to everyone's great surprise. Now, however, Paul is back in the Slayer fold, and I know that guitarist Kerry King in particular is happy about that. He stated upon Paul's departure that there were only 3 drummers in the world who were good enough to be in Slayer, and that 2 of them - Dave Lombardo and Paul Bostaph - were already history in that context. Whether the third drummer King had in mind was Jon Dette, who was warming the seat for Paul in Slayer at the time, is probably doubtful, because Jon didn't even last a year with the kings. He took part in a smaller festival tour in Europe and played at the Roskilde Festival in 1996, among other things, but then there was no more skin off that sausage, because soon Paul would be back in the hot seat. But why not hear a little about the carousel ride from Paul himself?

"I was lost - but now I've found my way back" laughs Paul, who has clearly explained the story fifty times already. "There was never anything personal involved in my departure, because I've always had a good relationship with Tom (Araya, bass/vocals), Jeff (Hanneman, guitar) and Kerry, and I've never had any problem with Slayer's music, but at that time I wanted to make something different - and not least my own - music. That's why I made The Truth About Seafood, which dabbled in all musical genres and is probably best described as musical alchemy. However, in late 96 I got the offer to rejoin Slayer, and I decided to do so. I think it had something to do with the fact that I had managed my desire to experiment, and I'm also out of The Truth About Seafood now, although many seem to think that I'm still continuing with that project alongside Slayer. The Truth About Seafood is still alive - but without Paul Bostaph”.

NO PUNK ATTITUDE
Before we get started on the new album, I need to check up on last year's "Undisputed Attitude". As most people will know, that record consists of a sea of ​​punk cover songs by bands that influenced Slayer... or is it just Jeff and Kerry? At least I don't get the impression that Paul is an old punk head.

"You're right about that too. I grew up with classic rock and early metal like Iron Maiden and never really listened to punk, but on the other hand I've never hated punk either. I didn't know the old punk trax until we recorded "Undisputed Attitude", but I think several of them have become pretty cool in Slayer packaging, and I don't look at the record wrongly at all. It was fun to record and served two purposes; partly to tell people about Slayer's roots and partly to keep people going until the new record was ready"

Hmmm, I now suspect that it also served a third purpose - namely to get Slay released from his contract with CBS/Def Jam, but Paul won't hear of that.

"No, not at all. It's true that "Undisputed Attitude" was the last record for CBS, and that we've moved on to Columbia (another big label in the US, Nolder) now, but we had released "Undisputed..." in any case. It's not a filler record that was just released to fulfill the contract with CBS”.

THE NEW OLD SLAYER
Okay, enough about the sins of the past and on to the fun of today! "Diabolus in Musica" should be out by the time you read this, and everyone should know that Slayer is back on top. To me, the new record seems like a varied mix of previous winning records like "South of Heaven" and "Seasons in the Abyss", and the tempo variation must be pleasing to a versatile potboiler. "Absolutely" answers Paul. "There's room to do a lot of little things and to put a good groove, when you're not just smashing away all the time. But it's not just me who enjoys the new material - the other guys are also really into it. I really think we've written some cool songs that fit the Slayer style. We've experimented a bit with the vocals in some places, and there's also been a development in the guitar playing, which in some places almost leans towards the progressive, but overall it's clearly Slayer as people know us. It's the new old Slayer... We're back and we're still kicking ass!"

Yes, God kicks "Diabolus in Musica" ass, but how much did Paul have to do with the songwriting? When I talked to him in 94 on the "Divine Intervention" tour, he said that he would definitely write a lot for the next album, but those plans must have gotten a bit mixed up in "all good from the sea", since he was on a side trip.

"Well, five of the new songs were ready when I came back. But the rest I imagine I had some influence on - at least when it comes to the drumming. It's still Jeff and Kerry who wrote most of it, but I did manage to write the lyrics for a couple of songs that will be on the Japanese release; namely "Wicked", which I wrote with Tom, and "Unguarded Instincts". It's possible that "Wicked" will be on the European release too, but I'm not sure"

WOW! Why do the fucking Japanese always have to be favored?? Well, it's probably more Columbia's decision than Paul's, so rather than complain about missing tracks, I'll instead praise the sound on the new album.

"We also think the sound has become really good, and I personally am extremely happy with the drum sound. Our old producer Rick Rubin was "hands on" and very active this time, where he stayed more in the background on "Divine Intervention", and I think that has a lot to say. Rick understands what we want, and at the same time he knows Slayer so well that he also knows when to leave us alone".

DEVIL'S INVOCATION
When I first read the title "Diabolus in Musica", I simply associated it with "devil's music" and thought that it was a nice title for Slayer, who have always had a penchant for the occult. However, it turns out that there is more behind the title than meets the eye. The term "Diabolus in Musica" itself dates back to the Middle Ages, where it was used to describe a specific "tritone" that divides an octave into two equal parts (C and F sharp). The church imposed a strict ban on the use of this particular "tritone", as it was associated with something evil and devilish, and musicians who used it were often tortured and killed. The ban lasted until the end of the Renaissance, and as such the title fits Slayer perfectly, who have never been particularly keen to adapt to the church's rules. I compliment Paul on the brilliant title and ask if the controversial "tritone" can actually be heard on the new record. "I have no idea, because I have no idea what a "tritone" sounds like - it's all just rock'n'roll to me!".

Hmm, so maybe the title wasn't chosen because of the above meaning?

"Oh, I know the meaning well, but I think it was chosen just as much because it sounds cool. It's a different title, which is fresh and new, while also being extremely relevant."

Yes, the title actually seems extra relevant to the new album, because at first glance it seems as if the band and especially Kerry King have returned a bit to the occult lyrics from the previous albums, after "Divine Intervention" was a bit of a digression in that regard.

"Well, the lyrics are very mixed on the new record, but you're right that Kerry has a good and thorough grasp of the occult in several of his lyrics. As always, it's pure fantasy, but they're some cool horror stories.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 180 DAYS
"Diabolus in Musica" is a brilliant record, but a brilliant record doesn't do it on its own these days. It also takes a good deal of promotion work and not least a hell of a lot of sweat on the slanted boards. A fact that Paul is more than aware of.

"Of course, promotion work is important, and that's one of the reasons why I'm sitting in England doing interviews now, but as dead as the scene is in the US now, it's not as important with, for example, videos and airplay on the radio as it used to be. Videos and airplay are for the masses, and since metal has long since become underground again in the States, commercial channels are less important, which means, among other things, that we do not immediately intend to make a video for the new record. That may come later, but for now we intend to do it "the old way" and go out and play as much as possible. We start with 18 dates in the US followed by a few scattered festivals in Finland and Spain, among others, before heading to South America and Japan - and then back to the US. Towards the end of the year we expect to come to Europe as headliners, but that tour is not yet confirmed".

Slayer has always been good at visiting us here in little Denmark, so I wonder if they will drop by this time. For now, a performance at this year's Roskilde Festival should be confirmed. In any case, Slayer's tour plan sounds like something like "around the world in 180 days", but it's not the tour plans we're ending with this time. Instead, I'll address Paul's mention of the American scene as dead and mention a few of Slayer's first names.