Slayer - Undisputed Attitude review
Band: | Slayer |
Album: | Undisputed Attitude |
Style: | Thrash metal |
Release date: | May 28, 1996 |
Guest review by: | Stuart |
01. Disintegration/Free Money [Verbal Abuse cover]
02. Verbal Abuse/Leeches [Verbal Abuse cover]
03. Abolish Government/Superficial Love [T.S.O.L. cover]
04. Can't Stand You [Pap Smear cover]
05. Ddamm [Pap Smear cover]
06. Guilty Of Being White [Minor Threat cover]
07. I Hate You [Verbal Abuse cover]
08. Filler/I Don't Want To Hear It [Minor Threat cover]
09. Spiritual Law [D.I. cover]
10. Sick Boy [Charged GBH cover] [Japanese bonus]
11. Mr. Freeze [Dr. Know cover]
12. Violent Pacification [D.R.I. cover]
13. Memories Of Tomorrow [Suicidal Tendencies cover] [Japanese bonus]
14. Richard Hung Himself [D.I. cover]
15. I'm Gonna Be Your God [The Stooges cover]
16. Gemini
There are a number of ways of approaching this album. If you are a die hard late 70's early 80's punk fan you probably already know most of these songs and will be interested in Slayer's take on these punk classics. If however, you are like me and only have a vague yet disinterested awareness of the major players in the punk scene at the time you will look at the album in an entirely different light. I had never consciously heard any of the original versions of these songs and this album introduced me to most of the bands covered here for the first time. So I will look at it from a very different point of view.
This being said I was very sceptical of this release and it took me quite a few listens to really get into it but once I did I became addicted. Now we all know that punk music is relatively simple music but don't let that put you off. The sheer essence of punk is to be straight to the point without any unnecessary nonsense. It's angry music for the disenchanted youth, overtly political and not afraid to show it. This album really captures the emotion of punk music perfectly with a slight hardcore twist rearing its head every now and again.
There are just so many great lyrics on this album which will have you howling with laughter. Try "I'm worth all you'd care for, Then I'll fuck you in the ass, I'm so fucking happy, I'll kick your face and laugh" and it is all delivered with such tongue in cheek intensity.
There are a couple of original Slayer tracks where they try their hand at writing some punk music. "Can't Stand You" and "Ddamm" were written for a Jeff Hanneman punk project in the early 80's which never came to fruition and they fit in with the rest of the album perfectly. Then the final original Slayer track "Gemini" comes up and confuses the whole album. It's not at all punk, but a very serious slow and morbid composition of music, written in a style that you would imagine in a release between the "Divine Intervention" and "Diabolous in Musica" albums.
If you're looking for a typical Slayer thrash metal album you'll be sorely disappointed but if you want to smash up your house and beat up people wearing suits then this is for you. It's interesting to have a look into some of Slayer's early influences nevertheless. This really is completely undisputed angst riddled attitude at its finest, the album title says it all.
Rating breakdown
Performance: | 8 |
Songwriting: | - |
Originality: | - |
Production: | 10 |
Written by Stuart | 16.04.2008
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
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