Florida-based Six Feet Under can be called as a death metal supergroup. Ex-Cannibal Corpse growler Chris Barnes and Allen West from Obituary started Six Feet Under as a project, together with ex-Death guy Terry Butler on bass and Greg Gall hitting skins. Their debut 'Haunted' (1995) was full of groovy and simplistic Florida death metal.

Now West has quit the band. New guitarist Steve Swanson (ex-Massacre) has brought new blood to the band. However, the simplicity is still there, believe me. There are fast, sick riff songs and slower, sludgy songs (e.g. 'This Graveyard Earth'), and therefore a bit more variety than on the debut. However, it is easy to say that this is still pure Six Feet Under. 'War Machine' is a nice Kiss cover, and limited edition includes another two nice covers (Iron Maiden's 'Wratchchild and 'Jailbreak' by Thin Lizzy). Lyrics are gory stories, but there a different side to them also; 'This Graveyard Earth' is environmentally aware. Chris Barnes is Chris Barnes. You can immediately recognize his brutal vocal style. His inhuman gut-deep growl and throat-shredding barking which became so familiar in Cannibal Corpse ranks.

Soundwise, 'Maximum Violence' is organic. Its thick (not very clear) sound doesn't include much studio trickery. Usual vocals track overlapping and such. This doesn't punch as much as the debut, but still the rhythm section injects enough of the lower end.

When you are listening to Six Feet Under, at least it is clear what band you're listening to, but that's also the negative side of it all, because they've already done it. Way better and have to admit, that 'Maximum Violence' is fairly feeble and devoid of energy. Some of the songs are not too hot, but those who want their death metal the American and the most primitive way, might find something here.

Rating: 6 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
12/31/1999 12:02