| Christ Illusion | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Original cover | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 8, 2006 | |||
| Recorded | February 28 − April 2006[1][2] | |||
| Studio | NRG Recording Studios and Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California | |||
| Genre | Thrash metal | |||
| Length | 38:25 | |||
| Label | American Recordings | |||
| Producer | Josh Abraham | |||
| Slayer chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Censored cover for the album | ||||
| Singles from Christ Illusion | ||||
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Christ Illusion is the tenth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on August 8, 2006 by American Recordings. It was the band's first album featuring all four original members in nearly sixteen years. Slayer's drummer, Dave Lombardo, performed with the band for the first time since Seasons in the Abyss (1990).
Depicting a mutilated Christ painted by longtime collaborator Larry Carroll, the album's graphic artwork courted controversy; an alternative cover was issued to conservative retailers who felt uncomfortable with the original, and the band also put out a censored cover without the offensive artwork. Lyrics, particularly in the song "Jihad", describe the September 11 attacks from the perspective of a terrorist. Following protests, all Indian stocks of the album were recalled and destroyed by EMI India.[3]
Christ Illusion received generally favorable critical reviews, and entered the US Billboard 200 at number 5, making it the band's second highest U.S. chart position as of 2015. The album includes the Grammy Award-winning songs "Eyes of the Insane" and "Final Six".
- ^ "SLAYER To Team Up With LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON, CHILDREN OF BODOM For U.S. Tour". Blabbermouth.net. March 3, 2006. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ "SLAYER Finish Recording New Album; Mixing To Begin This Week". Blabbermouth.net. April 16, 2006. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ "'Offensive' album pulled in India". BBC.co.uk. BBC. October 11, 2006. Retrieved November 8, 2011.