The death metal gods that are CANNIBAL CORPSE are back after almost three years with latest opus ‘Evisceration Plague’. This album is everything you would expect from CANNIBAL CORPSE. Brutal, heavy, fast, and total destruction of anything that stands in its way! Put simply, this is an awesome release from the mighty death metallers. Corpsegrinder is on top form again with his growling vocals from start to finish, and with blast beats and brutal riffs that simply kicks ass!

The tracks are also more subtlety titled on this release rather than aptly titled ‘I Cum Blood’ or ‘Fucked With A Knife’ for example, it brings to wonder if the masters of gore and offensive tracks have run out of majorly offending names, but its good to see that the goryness still portrays a part in them, examples being ‘Skewered From Ear To Eye’ and ‘Beheading And Burning’. The production is second to none also. Every riff, growl (if you can make out what Corpsegrinder is saying), and beatings of the drums are clearly distinguishable and do not sound mish mashed at all. It sounds like the tightest album CANNIBAL CORPSE has ever produced.

Also, even though the songs contained on this album are extremely brutal and fast at times, some appear to be extremely catchy and you can’t help but headbang (or at least nod your head) to the groove of them. This appears to be a slight evolution in the style of the way the songs are constructed and written and continues off from most notably ‘Make Them Suffer’ from last opus ‘Kill’.

Album opener ‘Priests of Sodom’ is a heavy brutal track, yet has some brilliant technicality to it which continues their evolution in sound from the just straight up style of death metal. ‘Scalding Hail’ is such a short, fast and brutal track, it flies by so quickly, I had to replay it to make sure I hadn’t missed it. This is an in your face no nonsense classic CANNIBAL CORPSE track that will pulverize anything that stands in its path! Another instant classic is ‘A Cauldron of Hate’ along with ‘Carniverous Swarm’ and title track ‘Evisceration Plague’ which go straight for the jugular, tearing it out and spitting it on the floor, before being chucked into a mosh pit of zombies. ‘Shatter Their Bones’ is another cracker of a track and there is evidence here along with some other tracks, that some lyrics from Corpsegrinder may be actually made out rather than the ‘What the hell did he just say approach’.

‘Evisceration Plague’ mixes the tempos in the tracks too, and combining this with the aforementioned traits also found on this album, shows true diversity here and shows that death metal can contain technicality along with extreme brutality, heaviness and pace. Credit has to go to the dual axe attack of Rob Barrett and Pat O’Brien for probably the best guitar work yet on a CANNIBAL CORPSE release. Once again, CANNIBAL CORPSE show why they are the godfathers of death metal and this will be the death metal album to beat this year hands down!

Rating: 4.2/5.0

Review By Adam Fredericks

Be sure to check out CANNIBAL CORPSE supporting CHILDREN OF BODOM on tour soon. Dates are as follows:

CHILDREN OF BODOM + CANNIBAL CORPSE

February 2009

14th – Glasgow, ABC
15th – Norwich, UEA
16th – Manchester, Academy 1
17th – Nottingham, Rock City
19th – London, The Forum

CANNIBAL CORPSE (Headline Show) + THE ROTTED

February 2009

18th – Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms