In the 2 years that have passed since I reviewed Sanguisugabogg’s debut, Tortured Whole, the collective hype surrounding the band has gone from palpable to downright absurd. This is partially due to an endless tour regiment that has seen them share the stage with veterans like Nile, Terror, and Cannibal Corpse, as well as landing slots on prestigious festivals like Psycho Las Vegas and the hardcore oriented The Rumble. It’s also thanks to a largely crossover appeal. The breakdowns and slams in Sanguisugabogg’s music owe as much to beatdown hardcore as they do classic death metal, and with collective interest in both hardcore and death metal at an all time high, it’s a win-win scenario.
Now you know I’m the first to rag on hardcore kids co-opting death metal for the sake of being hip. In the same breath, Sanguisugabogg is one of the very few bands who makes the hybrid work, if not the only band. When the band channels the golden age of death metal, it doesn’t come off as forced or false. And those nasty breakdown passages occur equally as naturally, fitting the mold of their music as comfortably as say an early Obituary or Suffocation song. It’s this recipe, coupled with splashes of experimentation (at least by Sanguisugabogg standards) that make their sophomore album, Homicidal Ecstasy, a success.
Whereas Tortured Whole was more or less an extension of the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” ethos showcased on Porongraphic Seizures, Homicidal Ecstasy comes off as a new chapter, the sound of a band “growing up”. By no means does this make Homicidal Ecstasy “boring”. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Sanguisugabogg prove they can step outside their comfort zone without compromising their initial vision of perverse brutality. Take for example cuts like “Skin Cushion”, “Mortal Admonishment”, and “Proclamation of the Flesh”, which capture the darkness and dissonance of Morbid Angel and Immolation, while still sounding distinctly like Sanguisugabogg. Whether it be the dismal riffage or unorthodox drum patterns, there was certainly attention to detail when crafting this album and its respective atmosphere.
On the opposite side of the spectrum are hardcore ragers like “Feening for Bloodshed” and “Face Ripped Off”, the latter which features a guest spot from Jesus Piece vocalist Aaron Heard, while “Pissed”, “Testicular Rot”, and “A Lesson in Savagery” groove and slam about like its nobody’s business. Again, I usually don’t care for this type of death metal, but Sanguisugabogg manages to keep it fresh and interesting. It’s in that old school curmudgeon spirit that the strongest songs on here are the most retro sounding ones. “Hungry for Your Insides” and “Necrosexual Deviant” sound closer to Eaten Back to Life era Cannibal Corpse than anything Cannibal Corpse has released in ages, stealing the show for me.
In many ways, Homicidal Ecstasy is quite a surprise. I was expecting a rehash of Tortured Whole, which I would’ve been perfectly content with. That album ruled hard. However, it’s on album #2 that Sanguisugabogg introduces a more sinister, unhinged side of their slamming, groovy, brutal death gone hardcore amalgamation. The possibilities for album #3 are endless, especially if they continue to explore more progressive and atmospheric territory. I know, big words for a band who made their bones as a living meme, but I digress. Until then, I shall immerse myself in the deadly horror that is Homicidal Ecstasy.
8 out of 10
Label: Century Media Records
Genre: Brutal Death Metal
For fans of: Cannibal Corpse, 200 Stab Wounds, Undeath