After 1998’s “Diabolus In Musica” received for the most part a luke warm reception amoung Slayer fans and deemed “experimental” at best and “bordering on Nu-Metal” at worst, something needed to change. Three years later, after successful stints on Ozzfest, they regrouped, switching from Rick Rubin to Matt Hyde (Nekrogoblikon, Hatebreed) to engineer, produce and