I am a fan of the two thrash classics 'Reign In Blood' and 'Seasons in the Abyss', (1986 and 1990 respectively) and it's taken me this long to get another Slayer album; so to suddenly leap to their 2006 album you think would be jarring. But no, it's business as usual, albeit with punchier modern production - this is definitely up there with the other two. The band deliver the sonic attack you crave and then some, and tackle familiar lyrical themes (religion, satanism, bloody murder, fiery death) with some contemporary issues in the songs 'Jihad' and 'Consfearacy' (gotta love those metal puns).
No-one is ever going to give Slayer an award for innovation over the last twenty years, but considering what they have done for extreme metal - who cares?