What AC/DC is to hard rock, and Slayer is to thrash metal, Cannibal Corpse is to death metal. Their no frills, meat and potatoes style is so synonymous with the genre that one can’t think of death metal without thinking of Cannibal Corpse. As a result, their output is highly enjoyable, albeit at times predictable. The last CC album that was truly revolutionary was The Bleeding (1994). After that, we’ve got a little over 25 years of albums that range from “solid” to “damn solid”. I’d be lying if I said albums like Kill (2006) and Evisceration Plague (2009) didn’t hit differently back in junior high. Those albums are “damn solid”. Their 2010s efforts are merely solid, almost bordering on, dare I say, “average”.
In true Cannibal Corpse fashion, a series of bizarre events saved them from the depths of mediocrity. Longtime guitarist Pat O’Brien suffered what can best be described as a “psychotic episode”. This resulted in his departure from the band. Replacing him was none other than former Ripping Corpse/Morbid Angel guitarist, and Hate Eternal mastermind, Erik Rutan. This raised quite a few eyebrows. Not because Rutan doesn’t have the chops for such a job, but rather the opposite. His guitar and songwriting virtuosity almost seemed too “cultivated” for the likes of Cannibal Corpse. It would be like if Eddie Van Halen had joined KISS in the early 80s. KISS rules and so does Eddie, but one of these things is not like the others. Rutan clearly took this into consideration when it came time to record the latest Cannibal Corpse album, Violence Unimagined. His six string wizardry stands out, but in such a way that it doesn’t overshadow the other elements that make up Cannibal Corpse.
Another thing that’s changed in the short four years since the last Cannibal Corpse album is a renewed interest in old school death metal. There’s no way CC couldn’t have been aware of the hype being generated by bands such as Necrot, Undeath, and Sanguisugabogg. Just as the 80s thrash titans and early death metal bands kicked Judas Priest’s ass into making Painkiller, these genre revivalists must’ve encouraged CC into kicking it up a notch for Violence Unhinged. The album title couldn’t be truer to the music within. From the opening slaughter of “Murderous Rampage”, we’re treated to an alternation of breakneck brutality and mid tempo mangling. This variety of riffs and styles is what keeps Violence Unimagined fresh and exciting.
Not to sound ageist, but I’m shocked that a band who’s been going at it for over 30 years can still pull off unexpected breakdowns like its nothing. Look no further than “Ritual Annihilation”, “Inhuman Harvest”, and my choice cut, “Necrogenic Resurrection”. Some tracks boast that slow, groovy style of death metal which ex-CC vocalist Chris Barnes has been attempting to perfect for some 25 years (“Condemnation Contagion”, “Slowly Sewn”). Others blast into overdrive, a Frankenstein of death, thrash, and punk, recalling the days of Eaten Back to Life (1990) (“Overtorture”, “Surround, Kill Devour”). Topping it all off are those ignorant knuckle draggers that have been synonymous with death metal since Butchered at Birth (1991) (“Follow the Blood”, “Cerements of the Flayed”). All in all, Violence Unimagined is the most captivating Cannibal Corpse album since Evisceration Plague.
They may be godfathers of death metal, but Cannibal Corpse is nowhere close to death. If anything, they’ll continue to butcher, bludgeon, and brutalize well into the latter half of this decade, celebrating 40 years of death metal mastery. If you’re of a certain age, that thought is almost as frightening as CC’s lyrical content. I’d argue that a world without CC is an even scarier thought. So let’s make the most of these legends while they’re still upon us dammit!
7 out of 10
Label: Metal Blade Records
Genre: Death Metal
For fans of: Deicide, Suffocation, Dying Fetus
Dude this review is spot on brother!