World Painted Blood

World Painted Blood marked the first time that the band wrote material in the studio rather than entering the studio fully prepared with lyrics. The fact that they were not prepared made guitarist Kerry King skeptical. King related: "I was kind of thinking, 'Man, this could be the first record in a long time that's got a little bit of filler,'" he acknowledges. "But I think every song came out great. I was concerned some would sound similar, and every one is completely different. It's cool how it worked out."{{cite web |date=June 30, 2009|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/slayer_ready_for_world_painted_blood.html |title=Slayer Ready For 'World Painted Blood' | News @ |publisher=Ultimate-guitar.com |access-date=September 19, 2010}} The majority of the lyrics and music were written by guitarist Jeff Hanneman. Kerry King stated: "I like when Jeff writes as much as he did for this record. When you have one guy doing most of the writing you only get one perspective. A lot of Jeff's stuff has a very punky vibe this time; the stuff I write sounds thrashy but with a hint of punk, and when Jeff writes the stuff is more punk with a hint of thrash. It works together well."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268250/slayer-ready-for-world-painted-blood |title=Slayer Ready For 'World Painted Blood' |magazine=Billboard |date=September 14, 2009 |access-date=September 19, 2010}} Unlike 2006's Christ Illusion, the band was "under-ready" with their lyrics and music.{{cite news |date=June 3, 2009 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=121295 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – Exclusive: SLAYER's New Album Title Revealed! |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011074052/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=121295 |archive-date=October 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

The album was recorded in Los Angeles, California with producer Greg Fidelman from late January and March 2009.{{cite news |last=Hyclak |first=Anna |url=https://www.spin.com/2009/06/slayer-discuss-new-album/ |title=Slayer Discuss New Album |publisher=SPIN.com |date=June 29, 2009 |access-date=September 19, 2010}}{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=128781 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909231415/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=128781 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – SLAYER Talks About 'World Painted Blood' Title Track; Video Available |date=October 19, 2009 |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=September 19, 2010 }} There were 13 songs recorded for the album, but only 11 appear on the album.{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122743 |date=June 29, 2009 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – SLAYER: New Songtitles Revealed |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090702014852/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122743 |archive-date=July 2, 2009 |url-status=dead }} In May 2009, King said of the album: "I think this one has a little bit of everything—more so than anything we've done since Seasons. So I would imagine people are gonna compare it to that one."[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=120413 "Slayer's Kerry King Says Forthcoming Album 'Has A Little Bit Of Everything' "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523094615/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=120413 |date=May 23, 2009 }}, Blabbermouth.net. May 20, 2009. The band had recorded thirteen songs for the album, seven written by lead guitarist Jeff Hanneman and six by King, although not all of them were included. King later confirmed the album's release date was pushed back to late summer 2009.Carman, Keith (2009) "[https://archive.today/20130101004955/http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=134&csid2=844&fid1=39638 Slayer Talk World Painted Blood, Still Won’t Give Us a Release Date]", Exclaim!, July 2, 2009 An article on Slayer's website confirmed the album's name.(2009-06-25). "[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122535 Slayer's Dave Lombardo: 'You Can Have Very Dark, Extreme Music With Melody'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710025718/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122535 |date=July 10, 2009 }}", Blabbermouth.net, June 25, 2009 On August 20, 2009, Roadrunner Records confirmed the track listing.{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=125591|title=Slayer: 'World Painted Blood' Track Listing Revealed; First Track-By-Track Review Available |date=September 20, 2009 |work=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=August 20, 2009}} Thom Jurek of Allmusic said the production "takes a different tack altogether for this guitar-manic crew." A listening party for World Painted Blood was held on October 30, 2009 at Duff's Brooklyn in Williamsburg, New York. The event started at 9:00 pm

During the recording of World Painted Blood, King used BC Rich Guitars, Marshall Amplifiers and Cabs, Dunlop strings and picks, EMG pickups, and Korg tuners.{{cite AV media notes |title="World Painted Blood" |others=Slayer |year=2009 |type=Compact Disc |publisher=American, Sony Music }} Hanneman used ESP guitars, Marshall Amplifiers and Cabs, Dunlop strings and picks, Monster Cables, and Shure Wireless System. Vocalist/bassist Araya used ESP basses, Marshall Bass Amplifiers and Cabs, EMG Pick-Ups, Dunlop Picks and accessories, and MXR Effects. Lombardo used Tama Drums, Paiste cymbals, Pro-Mark drum sticks, and Evans drum heads.

Record producer Greg Fidelman said that "the fact that the songs were still new and fresh to them, and they hadn't been playing them for six months in rehearsal, kept the vibe and excitement in the studio very high." Vocalist Tom Araya said that there "are two principal music writers in this band, so you're going to get a combination of speed and heaviness," and later said that the "writing is really aggressive and fast, while Jeff likes things to be fast, but with melodies and grooves. In making this album, we seemed to share the same vision from song ideas to titles; when we get together as Slayer, it just happens, nothing is contrived, it's not thought out, we just do it, and we did that with this new album." Lombardo said that Hanneman's writing and performance had "gone back to this great punk energy, especially with 'Psychopathy Red'."{{cite news|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=July 6, 2009|access-date=July 7, 2009|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=123194|title=Slayer: More World Painted Blood details revealed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709232028/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=123194|archive-date=July 9, 2009|url-status=dead}}

Image:SlayersWPBsingle.jpg

Allmusic said that it expressed moods such as Harshness, Fiery, Confidence, Rowdiness, Aggressiveness, Rebellious, Cathartic, Anger, and Hostility. It also is categorized in genres like speed metal and heavy metal. Thom Jurek said Lombardo's percussion beats "are WAAAAAAAY up in the mix," and said that "you can understand every word, even on the thrashers" about Tom Araya's vocal style. "[T]he guitars are simply further down in the mix and sometimes it becomes difficult to discern Araya's bass. Therefore, the first listen or two to World Painted Blood might be a bit confusing for the seasoned Slayer fan, but that changes quickly, and the sound of those drums blasting in one's head will become a more than welcome presence in the mix."

The album's title track was said by band members to be the continuation of "Final Six", which was an outtake from their previous album.{{cite web | work= Noisecreep.com| date=October 15, 2009| url=http://www.noisecreep.com/2009/10/15/slayer-world-painted-blood-video/| title=Slayer on the Origins of 'World Painted Blood' – Exclusive Video| access-date=December 29, 2010}} "Final Six" origins deal with the apocalypse. "Human Strain" deals with apocalyptic origins as well. The track was explained by guitarist Jeff Hanneman to initially be about the human race dying off by a mutative disease.{{cite news |date=October 27, 2009 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=129340 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – SLAYER Members Discuss 'Human Strain' Track; Video Available |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108233336/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=129340 |archive-date=November 8, 2009 |url-status=dead }} The title of "Public Display of Dismemberment" refers to the consequences that countries outside of the United States give to citizens for crimes.{{cite news |date=October 26, 2009 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=129306 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – SLAYER's KERRY KING Discusses 'Public Display' Track; Video Available |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029223511/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=129306 |archive-date=October 29, 2009 |url-status=dead }} Tom Araya said that "Unit 731" is "very similar to Josef Mengele in the sense that it was a medical unit in the military, which was a Japanese military unit, actually. They did kind of the same thing; they tested the limits of the human body and recorded it for scientific purposes."{{cite news |date=October 16, 2009 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=128833 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121203035758/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=128833 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2012 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – Exclusive: SLAYER Members Talk About New Track 'Unit 731'; Video Available |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=September 19, 2010 }} "Playing With Dolls" is about a child witnessing a serial killer.{{cite news |date=October 30, 2009 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=129577 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – SLAYER Members Discuss 'Playing With Dolls' Track; Video Available |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103072033/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=129577 |archive-date=November 3, 2009 |url-status=dead }} "Beauty Through Order" is about Elizabeth Báthory, the most prolific female serial killer.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2009/10/watch-slayer-explain-female-serial-killer-song/ |title=WATCH: Slayer Explain Female Serial Killer Song |publisher=SPIN.com |date=October 21, 2009 |access-date=September 19, 2010}} Jeff Hanneman explained: "I've been meaning to write a song about that for a long time. I couldn't figure out the angle, I was thinking, 'How does a woman write? I can't write like a woman I'm a guy!' Then I just figured, 'Well, she's evil; she has lots of power and killed people.' So I just started writing and the lyrics and they came out."{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=129048 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121202231454/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=129048 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 2, 2012 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – SLAYER Members Discuss 'Beauty Through Order' Track; Video Available |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date=October 21, 2009 |access-date=September 19, 2010 }} Slayer revealed to Revolver that the track "Snuff" has no lyrical concept.{{cite web |url=http://www.revolvermag.com/video/detail/exclusive-video-slayer-talk-about-snuff-off-their-new-album-world-pain/ |title=Exclusive Video: Slayer Talk About "Snuff" Off Their New Album, 'World Painted Blood' – Revolver Video |publisher=Revolvermag.com |access-date=September 19, 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=128928 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – SLAYER Members Discuss 'Snuff' Track; Video Available |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date=October 20, 2009 |access-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026145134/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=128928 |archive-date=October 26, 2009 |url-status=dead }} "Psychopathy Red" was inspired by the Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo.

Image:PsychopathyRed.jpg

"Psychopathy Red", a song inspired by the Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, was made available as a "limited edition, blood-red vinyl seven-inch vinyl" disc on April 18, 2009 as part of the third annual Record Store Day.(2009-03-24) [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116729 "Slayer To Release 'Psychopathy Red' 7" Single As Part Of Third Annual 'Record Store Day'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329105643/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116729 |date=March 29, 2009 }}. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved June 24, 2010. The song premiered on October 29, 2008, on a YouTube stream.[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=107895 "Slayer: "New Song 'Psychopathy Red' Available For Streaming"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630222912/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=107895 |date=June 30, 2009 }}. Blabbermouth.net. 2008-10-29. Retrieved June 27, 2010. Originally, "Psychopathy Red" was going to be a b-side of World Painted Blood, but after there was access to it on the internet, they decided to add it to the album's track list.[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=132186 "Slayer's Kerry King Says Upcoming 'Big Four' Shows Will Be 'Groundbreaking'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221060735/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=132186 |date=December 21, 2009 }}. Blabbermouth.net. 2009-12-17. Retrieved June 27, 2010.

On July 28, the song "Hate Worldwide" was released as a CD-single, exclusively available at Hot Topic stores.{{cite web|url=http://www.shockhound.com/features/667-exclusive--hear-slayer-s-new--hate-worldwide--here-first---|title=Exclusive: Hear Slayer's New "Hate Worldwide" Here First!!!|publisher=ShockHound|access-date=July 27, 2009}} The song was available on the internet before November 2008 and until July 2009, it had been streamed more than a half-million times. "Hate Worldwide" was released as a limited-edition single on October 20, 2009, through Columbia Records as a CD.{{AllMusic |class=album |id=mw0001354687 |label="Hate Worldwide" |access-date=June 27, 2010}} The song was made available exclusively at Hot Topic stores and was streamed at Hot Topic's ShockHound.com. The composition was written by Kerry King who said "It's a really cool track, and Tom's voice sounds incredible on it. The last line in the song's chorus is '..spread a little hate worldwide,' and that's what we've been doing for 25 years." Along with five other songs, "Hate Worldwide" was nominated for a Best Metal Performance Grammy Award, but lost to "Dissident Aggressor" by Judas Priest, which ironically Slayer covered 22 years earlier on their 4th studio album "South of Heaven", (Priest's 2010 Grammy Award winning version, was a live recording, taken from the 2009 album "A Touch of Evil: Live").(2010-01-31) [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=134345 "Judas Priest Wins Grammy For 'Best Metal Performance'; Video Available"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20240525213544/https://www.webcitation.org/66oFzpr67?url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx%3Fmode=Article |date=May 25, 2024 }}. Blabbermouth.net.

The title track, "World Painted Blood", was released as a seven-inch single on November 26, 2010, and was limited to 2500 copies. It included the b-side "Atrocity Vendor". A music video for the song had already been released on June 16, 2010.(2010-06-16) [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=141638 "Slayer: 'World Painted Blood' Video Released"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619040443/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=141638 |date=June 19, 2010 }}. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved June 24, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.smnnews.com/2010/06/16/slayer-official-video-for-world-painted-blood/ |title=SLAYER: Official Video for "World Painted Blood" |publisher=SMNnews.com |date=June 16, 2010 |access-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820150604/http://www.smnnews.com/2010/06/16/slayer-official-video-for-world-painted-blood/ |archive-date=August 20, 2010 |url-status=dead }} The single was exclusively released through the Metal Club record store chain. The song itself was said by the band to be a continuation of "Final Six", a bonus track on the special edition of Slayer's 2006 album Christ Illusion, and deals with the end of the world. Araya and Hanneman have said "World Painted Blood" is "one of the more classic Slayer songs". A music video has been made for "Beauty Through Order",(2009-10-21) [https://archive.today/20121202231454/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=129048 Slayer Members Discuss 'Beauty Through Order' Track; Video Available] Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved June 24, 2010. however, it has been removed from most online sources.[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=138403 "Updated: Slayer 'Beauty Through Order' Video Making-Of Footage Available"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606215615/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=138403 |date=June 6, 2011 }} Blabbermouth.net. April 13, 2010.

{{Album ratings

| MC = 78/100{{cite web |title=Critic Reviews for World Painted Blood |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/world-painted-blood/slayer/critic-reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=December 1, 2012}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{AllMusic |class=album |id=mw0001775089 |label=World Painted Blood |first=Thom |last=Jurek |access-date=October 30, 2009}}

| rev2 = Alternative Press

| rev2score = {{rating|3.5|5}}Sure there are some lulls; but the face-melting trash that surrounds these tunes proves the band still have it in 'em to, well, slay. [Dec 2009, p117]

| rev3 = The A.V. Club

| rev3Score = A−{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/slayer-world-painted-blood-1798207329|title=Slayer: World Painted Blood|last=Pierce|first=Leonard|date=November 3, 2009|work=The A.V. Club|publisher=The Onion|access-date=November 19, 2009}}

| rev4 = Chicago Tribune

| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news |first=Greg |last=Kot |title=Turn It Up: Album review: Slayer, 'World Painted Blood' |date=November 2, 2009 |url=http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2009/11/album-review-slayer-world-painted-blood-.html |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=December 1, 2012}}

| rev5 = Consequence of Sound

| rev5Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://consequence.net/2009/11/album-review-slayer-world-painted-blood/|title=Album Review: Slayer – World Painted Blood||last=Buchannan|first=David|magazine=Consequence of Sound|date=November 3, 2009|access-date=April 25, 2012}}

| rev6 = musicOMH

| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/slayer_1109.htm|title=Slayer - World Painted Blood|last=Shepherd|first=Sam|magazine=musicOMH|date=November 2, 2009|access-date=November 19, 2009|archive-date=November 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112193125/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/slayer_1109.htm|url-status=dead}}

| rev7 = NOW Magazine

| rev7Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=172285|title=Slayer: World Painted Blood (American)|last=Gillis|first=Carla|newspaper=Now|date=November 11–18, 2009|access-date=December 1, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8Score = 7.3/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13673-world-painted-blood/|title=Slayer: World Painted Blood|last=Lee|first=Cosmo|publisher=Pitchfork Media|date=November 9, 2009|access-date=December 1, 2012}}

| rev9 = PopMatters

| rev9Score = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/115586-slayer-world-painted-blood |title=Slayer: World Painted Blood < PopMatters |last=Begrand|first=Adrien|date=November 5, 2009|magazine=PopMatters|access-date=November 19, 2009}}

| rev10 = Record Collector

| rev10score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last1=McIver |first1=Joel |title=World Painted Blood - Slayer |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/world-painted-blood |website=Record Collector |accessdate=13 February 2023 |date=16 October 2009}}

}}

The album earned generally positive reviews. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 78 out of 100 based on 11 reviews.

"Sounding," said Classic Rock, "like it was recorded in a studio where the amps were set to FUCK YOU rather than 11 and armed with a dual attack of heavy and heaviest, Slayer's 10th studio album [sic] offers a remarkable clarity of vision and strength of identity."Yates, Catherine: "The hard stuff: Albums"; Classic Rock #138, November 2009, p90

"Quite frankly we were beginning to wonder if they still had an album like this left in them," said Greg Moffitt of the BBC. "A few of the songs command the attention with the insistence of old… [The album is] a deliciously wicked ride."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/v6pn|work=BBC Music |title=BBC – Music – Review of Slayer – World Painted Blood |author=Moffitt, Greg|date=October 30, 2009|access-date=November 3, 2009}} AllMusic's Thom Jurek awarded the album three and a half stars, saying, "In many ways it could be Reign In Blood Revisited… Some compositions on this new recording have more of the band's early–style melody in them, with lightning flare–up riffs between verses: quick unexpected guitar pyrotechnics; and blast beat power drumming from Dave Lombardo pushing it all into red."

Leonard Pierce of The A.V. Club remarked on the "burden" that "weighs particularly heavy on bands that made their reps with intensity and innovation; Slayer, in particular, was perceived as wandering in the wilderness during the years Paul Bostaph sat behind the drum kit." He rewarded the album with an A−, describing it as "eclectic, but never self-consciously so. It rarely flags in intensity, and it's good enough that if it were inserted in Slayer’s discography right after Seasons In The Abyss — the record it most resembles — it would be an almost seamless transition." Adrien Begrand of PopMatters gave the album eight out of ten stars, saying, "It's a slight improvement on Christ Illusion, as more than on any of their previous five albums, the foursome of guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, and drummer Dave Lombardo find themselves revisiting the seminal styles of their 1986–88 heyday." MusicOMH gave the album four out of five stars.

Blabbermouth's Ryan Ogle gave it 7.5 out of 10 and said it "jumps into fairly aggressive thrash gallop, but doesn't really have that 'straight-for-the-throat' feel you'd expect from track one."{{cite news |first=Ryan |last=Ogle |title=Review: Slayer – World Painted Blood |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=1821 |work=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=November 5, 2009}}

World Painted Blood sold 41,000 copies in the United States in its first week, landing it at number twelve on the Billboard 200.{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=130184 |title=SLAYER: 'World Painted Blood' Debuts At No. 12 On BILLBOARD Chart |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=November 11, 2009 |access-date=November 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525213544/https://www.webcitation.org/66oFzpr67?url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx%3Fmode=Article |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web| url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=slayer|chart=all}} |title=World Painted Blood – Slayer |publisher=Billboard charts |access-date=June 8, 2010}} It had sold 160,000 copies in the US as of February 2015.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211084522/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |archive-date= February 11, 2015 |url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases |website=Hits Daily Double |publisher=HITS Digital Ventures }} The album peaked at number seven in Germany {{cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/SLAYER/longplay |title=Diskographie von Slayer |language=de |publisher=German charts |access-date=June 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820003139/http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Slayer/longplay |archive-date=August 20, 2013 |url-status=dead }} and debuted at forty–one on the UK Albums Chart.{{cite web| url=http://www.everyhit.com/ |title=UK Top 40 Hit Database |publisher=Every hit |access-date=June 8, 2010}} "Hate Worldwide" was nominated for Best Metal Performance in 2009,{{cite web|url=http://www2.grammy.com/grammy_awards/52nd_show/list.aspx#04|title=The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards Nominees List|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618185140/http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/52nd_show/list.aspx#04|archive-date=June 18, 2010|url-status=dead}} and the title track was nominated for the same award a year later,{{cite news|url=http://theenvelope.latimes.com/news/breaking/newsletter/la-et-env-grammys-nominees-2010-list,0,4822287.htmlstory|title=53rd Annual Grammy Awards nominees list|access-date=December 2, 2010|work=Los Angeles Times}} but lost to Iron Maiden's "El Dorado".

In June 2009, it was announced that the album would be released in the late summer of 2009. The album was released on November 3, 2009. The album's artwork was revealed on September 15, 2009. Four different covers were equally shipped for a standard that when put together, they create a world map covered in blood.{{cite web|url=http://www.slayer.net/us/news/album-art-revealed|title=Album Art Revealed|publisher=Slayer.com|access-date=September 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922232825/http://www.slayer.net/us/news/album-art-revealed|archive-date=September 22, 2009|url-status=dead}} The album has four special collector's edition CD covers, and each of them "display one-fourth of a provocative continental map illustrated with human skulls and bones; when placed together, the four images form a complete and grisly map of the world." Each album has a blood-red, transparent top panel, with the map displayed beneath it. The full map is also seen in a sleeve of the double-digipak edition of World Painted Blood.(2009-09-15) [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=126990 "Slayer: 'World Painted Blood' Artwork Revealed"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922171333/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=126990 |date=September 22, 2009 }}. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved June 27, 2010.

{{tracklist

| title1 = World Painted Blood

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Jeff Hanneman|Tom Araya}}

| music1 = Hanneman

| length1 = 5:53

| title2 = Unit 731

| lyrics2 = Hanneman

| music2 = Hanneman

| length2 = 2:39

| title3 = Snuff

| lyrics3 = Kerry King

| music3 = King

| length3 = 3:42

| title4 = Beauty Through Order

| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Hanneman|Araya}}

| music4 = Hanneman

| length4 = 4:36

| title5 = Hate Worldwide

| lyrics5 = King

| music5 = King

| length5 = 2:52

| title6 = Public Display of Dismemberment

| lyrics6 = King

| music6 = King

| length6 = 2:34

| title7 = Human Strain

| lyrics7 = {{hlist|Hanneman|Araya}}

| music7 = Hanneman

| length7 = 3:09

| title8 = Americon

| lyrics8 = King

| music8 = King

| length8 = 3:22

| title9 = Psychopathy Red

| lyrics9 = Hanneman

| music9 = Hanneman

| length9 = 2:26

| title10 = Playing with Dolls

| lyrics10 = {{hlist|Hanneman|King|Araya}}

| music10 = Hanneman

| length10 = 4:13

| title11 = Not of This God

| lyrics11 = King

| music11 = King

| length11 = 4:20

| total_length = 39:46

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Japanese edition bonus track

| title12 = Psychopathy Red

| note12 = explicit live version

| lyrics12 = Hanneman

| music12 = Hanneman

| length12 = 2:47

| total_length = 42:33

}}

Credits are adapted from AllMusic.{{AllMusic |class=album |id=mw0001775089 |tab=credits |label=World Painted Blood > Credits |access-date=October 8, 2013}}{{cite web|publisher=CD Universe|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8014203&style=music&fulldesc=T|title=Slayer - World Painted Blood CD| access-date=October 8, 2013}}

• Tom Araya – bass, vocals
• Kerry King – guitars
• Jeff Hanneman – guitars
• Dave Lombardo – drums

• Greg Fidelman – production, engineering, mixing
• Rick Rubin – executive production
• Dana Nielsen – engineer
• Sara Killion – assistant engineer
• Vlado Meller – mastering
• Rick Sales, Kristen Mulderig, Andrew Stuart – managers
• Dan Monti – digital editor

|-

{{album chart|New Zealand|16|artist=Slayer|album= World Painted Blood|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|-

{{album chart|Norway|15|artist=Slayer|album=Christ Illusion|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|-

{{album chart|Poland|16|id=547|artist=Slayer|album=Christ Illusion|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|-

{{album chart|Scotland|31|date=20091108|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|-

{{album chart|Spain|56|artist=Slayer|album= World Painted Blood|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|-

{{album chart|Sweden|21|artist=Slayer|album= World Painted Blood|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

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{{album chart|Switzerland|14|artist=Slayer|album= World Painted Blood|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|-

{{album chart|UK2|41|date=20091108|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|-

{{album chart|UKRock|4|date=20091108|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|-

{{album chart|Billboard200|12|artist=Slayer|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|-

{{album chart|BillboardDigital|18|artist=Slayer|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|-

{{album chart|BillboardHardRock|2|artist=Slayer|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

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{{album chart|BillboardRock|4|artist=Slayer|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

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{{album chart|BillboardTastemaker|1|artist=Slayer|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

|}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|type=album|artist=Slayer|title=World Painted Blood|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2010|access-date=February 28, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}

{{reflist|3}}

• {{Metacritic album}}

{{Slayer}}

{{good article}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2009 albums

Category:Slayer albums

Category:American Recordings (record label) albums

Category:Albums produced by Rick Rubin

Category:Albums produced by Greg Fidelman