Six Feet Under started as a project by then Cannibal Corpse growler Chris Barnes and Obituary guitarist Allen West, with ex-Death bassist Terry Butler. Greg Gall hits the skins. I bet the idea of Six Feet Under was to get back to the roots, back to 1980s style basic death metal.

The band's death metal is incredibly simple. The riffs are partly very familiar, partly plain Six Feet Under and Obituary of course. It is all old school death metal with some groove added. Also, it is all very straight without any intros, instrumental pieces and such, even though Greg Gall throws in some short rolls and stuff. The music is mid-paced and slower ('Suffering in Ecstasy' is a faster Ramones-goes-death metal type song) and very rolling indeed.

The music isn't very sick in nowadays standards, but a lot of disharmonics are used. The lower end of the sound is huge! Heavy bass (also some distorted bass), pounding drums, low-tuned guitar and Mr Barnes' raspy-meets-bellowing inhuman vokills make this weight a thousand tons. Heaviness is added by the fact, that there isn't very much lead guitar or solos. Sometimes it feels, especially during 'Human Target', that the band have run out of ideas. No major gripes, though.

Lyrically it is violence and horror all the way. Well, you should know what Chris Barnes loves! And these gore lyrics are love/hate affair, nothing unique for sure. The cover looks cool and the lyrics are printed, which is nice, since Mr Barnes' vocal style can make words incomprehensible.

All in all, this is one for those who hark back to the 1980s' old school death metal and those who beware of technicality. It is all very American and honors the roots. By the way, this was produced by Brian Slagel and Scott Burns with the band at Morrisound Studios. But you knew that, didn't you, at least that Burns/Morrisound bit? The opening trio is unforgottable and still some of the best Six Feet material out there!

Rating: 7+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
04/27/2003 20:31