Jump to content

Recommended Posts

     This was the first Cannibal Corpse album I ever purchased. On the back side of the booklet, there are two intensely grotesque quotes-- one from Gilles de Rais, and one from Albert Fish (both are extensively violent serial killers). The horror of these quotes made the hair on the back of my neck raise, and they gave me a proper introduction to the gory and vile atmosphere which surrounds this album.

    "Meathook Sodomy" is my personal favorite from the album, and it is a great opener. It starts off the album with heavily distorted guitars making various sounds and deep growls from vocalist, Chris Barnes. Soon after, the main riff kicks in, the blast beat is going, and Chris is delivering massive growls. The song follows a serial killer who (as seen in the title) sodomizes his victims with meathooks. The guitarists, Jack Owen and Bob Rusay, as well as the bassist, Alex Webster (who's bass presence is heavy and dynamic enough to be considered as another rhythm guitar), use rapid (and sometimes atonal) riffs to propel the brutal song into the mind of a psychopath possessing the need to kill. The tone of the guitars is so heavy and distorted that it feels as if the sound is oozing out of the speakers (and I mean that in the best way possible). And behind it all, drummer, Paul Mazurkiewiscz, absolutely attacks his snare drum all throughout the song, producing a very violent sound.

     As I said before, "Meathook Sodomy", really showcases the talent of early cannibal corpse and encapsulates the feel of this album. Listening to this album is like watching a horror movie-- it will get your heart pumping and bring your mind to places it has never been. So give this album a chance if you're into death metal and/or cannibal corpse. It'll give you plenty of adrenaline, technical riffs to analyze, and well thought-out lyrics to ponder over. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Tomb Of The Mutilated" is my favorite early CC album. I enjoy "Butchered" and "Eaten" also; "Butchered" may be my favorite vocal performance from Barnes. I like a handful of the Corpsegrinder albums, too. Gotta admit I hardly ever play CC anymore, but those early albums were a big part of my introduction to DM in my early teens. I don't find them particularly technical; they had that sort of nonsensical chaos that makes early DM so charming.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, FatherAlabaster said:

"Tomb Of The Mutilated" is my favorite early CC album. I enjoy "Butchered" and "Eaten" also; "Butchered" may be my favorite vocal performance from Barnes. I like a handful of the Corpsegrinder albums, too. Gotta admit I hardly ever play CC anymore, but those early albums were a big part of my introduction to DM in my early teens. I don't find them particularly technical; they had that sort of nonsensical chaos that makes early DM so charming.

Yeah I think they're technical but not overwhelmingly. "Tomb of the Mutilated" is also my favorite record of theirs, and I plan on doing a review on it soon. The only Corpsegrinder album I have is "Gore Obsessed", and I really like the riffs, but I'd say it's lacking a bit in content and song structure for my liking. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, MacabreEternal said:

I too prefer "Tomb..." as their best album (and my "in" record for the band).  Last year I got hold of "Kill" which although miles away from the strongest material they have done is still a perfectly fun DM record.  A real plug in n play record.

Yeah I agree. Most of their discography is fun to listen to

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...