Undisputed Attitude
Finally, Slayer creates an album that matches the furious savagery of its breakthrough American debut,Reign in Blood, and wouldn't you know it, it's a bunch of cover tunes. In Slayer's speedy mitts these hardcore classics from the early and mid-'80s have twice the impact of the originals and actually sound a lot like outtakes fromReign in Bloodminus the gorey lyrics. The original versions of these tunes don't have the ripping solos created by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, but aside from that one liberty, all the songs are done with good faith and reverence.There's little doubt that at one point Slayer was influenced as much by Metallica as D.R.I. Unlike Guns 'N' Roses' weak attempt to patronize their punk idols onThe Spaghetti Incident?, Slayer perform tunes like D.I.'s "Richard Hung Himself," Verbal Abuse's "Verbal Abuse/Leeches," and Dr. Know's "Mr. Freeze" with such verve and exuberance that it's hard to question their sincerity. The biggest letdown on the entire record is a new original, entitled "Gemini," that slogs along. Their cover of The Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog" is more spirited.Punk purists may object to a metal band paying homage to these tunes, butUndisputed Attitudeproves the two worlds aren't that far apart.  Hopefully Slayer will draw from this inspiration once again and create a new album of originals with the same punishing hybrid of hardcore and metal.-- Adem Tepedelen