A slight change from the norm - not in song titles or lyrical concepts, but a more "approachable" onslaught of metal due to the fact that Cannibal Corpse comes up with more listenable guitar orchestrations. A catchier infliction of domineering riff writing and leads, in the brief a memorable diseased warpath embodying thickness in distortion. Songs don't sound as repetitious of say 'Torture' or older material - a more solid approach of animation among the eardrum infestation. I say through and through, the writing style is heavy and virtuous, with less intense tempo infiltration, but still technical in terms of the riffs. I can't say that I fully enjoyed the "whammy" wah in their lead outputs - I would say that is why I took some points off in a more worthier scoring. If the band would have the leads taken out, then I might've been more generous in my rating.

Not to digress, but George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher doesn't really sound any different in past discoveries in his vocal outbursts, he sounds the same. In my contention, his throat feeds well along the guitars and I would conclude that they wouldn't sound as brutal if he was taken out of the lineup - though I do think that Barnes was better for the band, though we won't rehash ourselves from our earlier discoveries in musical form such as on 'Butchered At Birth' and 'Tomb of the Mutilated' (released in 1991 and 1992 respectively). These were MY favorites and they've become a different band since he left then Fisher came in. For YOU guitar maniacs the sound of the band is as if they're once again here tuning to B-flat using a lot of heavy gauge strings with more heavy palm muted slays - the technicality we shall revisit and say it is apparent once again with a "fresh" use in thickness extremities.

When we speak of the overall recording quality, its' mastery is apparent. It exists here that the music is palatable, but in Cannibal Corpse's history, I can't with full honesty say that this is their best work to date. I say it is solid no doubt - their songs here flow rampant and the music is what makes the album admirable minus those leaks in weak lead guitar aspects. In ingenuity, O'brien and Barrett come up with some interesting thickness, chunky, heavy, and explosive manifestations. To say this is a solid release is still the question - would I be fair to say that this is deserving of a "greatness" or unfathomed ingenuity, I would say that it's a "B", a solid one if that.

We being listeners of metal know that this band have and will never depart from their concepts in lyrical domination, but I would be unfair to say that this one is unworthy of mention. The music does own the realm in it's uncompromising heaviness as well as hefty drum episodes. A still same lineup as in past releases, just not really really older releases therefore mentioned and covered. In proximity, this one musically is remaining to be heavy, dominant and ear deafening malevolence. It hits home with me, the riffs i.e. musical orchestration are summoning heaviness and would be prominent if as the leads technicality were more brightening or wholly omitted then the band would have a greater rating than what was given to it. A high "B" is still without a doubt, but Cannibal Corpse should focus more so on just the rhythms.

Concluding here as we've discovered death metal sheer precision, a definite boon to your collection, will not bore you as did (I found to be the case) older releases, just not the 2nd and 3rd albums - those I deem as gems. They're definitely well over the styles in the early days with guitars that a much thicker and heavier distorted, whereas the early releases combined death metal vocals with a more thrashy guitar style. Definitely check out YouTube first to see if it's suitable to your palate, but I would say that followers of the band definitely will be more than satisfied with this one. Watch for catchy riff writing in both tremolo paths and technical onslaughts. Get this, it shall not disappoint or fall below your expectations - it's notable and catchy, believe me in this entirety, the quality and ingenuity are well intact!

Rating: 8½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Death8699
02/26/2015 21:16