Slayer's "Christ Illusion" Debuts At #5 On Billboard 200
Band Photo: Slayer (?)
The City of Fullerton, CA abruptly removed all 17 of Slayer's promotional bus benches. Twenty years of equipment and stage production was stolen out of their warehouse. Their 2006 U.S. Tour due to kick off 6.6.06 had to be postponed due to band member Tom Araya's emergency surgery. But none of these roadblocks prevented Slayer's brand new album, "Christ Illusion" (American Recordings/WBR), from making the highest chart debut of the band's career, coming in at #5 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart.
In addition, "Christ Illusion" - executive produced by Rick Rubin and produced by Josh Abraham - is a Top 10 album internationally in its first week, debuting at #2 in Germany, #2 in Finland, #8 in Holland, #9 in Australia, and #6 in Austria.
With more than 62,000 copies sold in the U.S. in its first week, "Christ Illusion" marks the long-awaited return of the legendary punk/thrash/metal band. "Christ Illusion" is Slayer's first new studio album in five years, and the first recorded by the original line-up - Araya/bass, vocals; Kerry King/guitars; Jeff Hanneman/guitars, and Dave Lombardo/drums - in more than 15 years. The #5 debut is only the second time in Slayer's 25-year-plus history that they've debuted in Billboard's Top 10 - 1994's "Divine Intervention" came in at #8.
On "Christ Illusion," the unabashedly controversial Slayer takes on Government and God, looking at the World Trade Center disaster from the terrorists' point of view, and repeatedly committing lyrical blasphemy.
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13 Comments on "Slayer Debut At #5 On Billboard 200"
Supporter
3. writes:
no way razor, the riffs on the new album are typical, dare i say classic slayer. this certainly not their greatest release, but it is no where near their most dissappointing. i was quite surprised by the new album. lamb of god should learn a thing or two from these guys cause if you didnt like the new slayer than stay far far away from sacrament...
7. writes:
Slayer f***ing rules!!!!!!!!!!!!! f*** the mainstream rap/hip hop/pop garbage that makes it to number #1 like sh** Kronhole listens to.....who's his favourite artist oh ya Christina Aguilera. f***ING SLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a f***ing Flesh Storm!!!!!!!!!
Supporter
10. writes:
I've been listening to Slayer for over twenty years and this album is an excellent addition to their catalog. I do not get the "it's alright" crap that I have been reading all over the net. Are you people listening to the same thing I am? The lyrics are some of the best I have ever heard from these guys. Fast , p***ed-off, and definetly sick as f**k!!!
12. writes:
first off, that is cool that they debuted at number 5. never thought i would see that with slayer.
i think there's simply two sides to it, though. on one hand, it's exactly what you would expect from slayer...fast, brutal, p***ed off. on the other hand, it's exactly what you would expect from slayer...which after about twenty years to some people is starting to get a little boring. the only difference i hear from the last several albums is that the drums have the classic dave lombardo sound which don't get me wrong is a good thing. i don't mean any disrespect to those guys, but personally i'm bored with them. i thought the diabolos album was great, because it was a slight change in direction for them while still keeping there intensity, but this album just sounds so much like what they've already done over and over again. it is a good album, though, and cool to hear them with dave on drums again.
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1. Diamond Oz writes:
Reeey! Congratulations boys!!! Let's hope it does as good over here!