Diabolus in Musica (Latin for “The Devil in Music”) was released in

Diabolus in Musica (Latin for “The Devil in Music”) was released in 1998, and debuted at number 31 on the Billboard 200, selling over 46,000 copies in its first week. It was complete by September 1997, and scheduled to be released the following month, but got delayed by nine months after their label was taken over by Columbia Records . The album received a mixed critical reception, and was criticized for adopting characteristics of nu metal music such as tuned down guitars, murky chord structures, and churning beats. Blabbermouth.net reviewer Borivoj Krgin described the album as “a feeble attempt at incorporating updated elements into the group’s sound, the presence of which elevated the band’s efforts somewhat and offered hope that Slayer could refrain from endlessly rehashing their previous material for their future output”, while Ben Ratliff of The New York Times had similar sentiments, writing on June 22, 1998, that: “Eight of the 11 songs on Diabolus in Musica , a few of which were played at the show, are in the same gray key, and the band’s rhythmic ideas have a wearying sameness too.”