CD: Cannibal Corpse – Evisceration Plague

By Spencer Morton

Posted on Jan. 26, 2009, at 12:00 a.m.

Cannibal Corpse are back, like it or not. 2009 offers up “Evisceration Plague,” the group’s 11th studio album. In a 2008 interview, bassist Alex Webster said this album would be their heaviest to date.

It’s hard to say how much heavier this New York death metal quintet can get, but “Plague” is an impressive follow-up to 2006′s highly successful “Kill.” That bloodbath cracked the Billboard 200 chart, and it won’t be a surprise if “Plague” follows suit.

The album is mostly solid the whole way through. Standout tracks include “To Decompose,” “A Cauldron of Hate,” “Carrion Sculpted Enemy” and “Skewered From Ear to Ear.” The only real hiccup is the second track, “Scalding Hail,” where their insanely fast blast beats only annoy.

Technically, the album is crafted well. At some points the drums completely overpower the guitars – a disappointment, as the fret work in “Plague” is stellar. The album smartly combines catchy yet heavy riffs with mind-melting, polished solos.

George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher delivers again with top-notch vocals. Some may call his deep growls “Cookie Monster-ish” – I call them manly. The guy is nuts. It’s near impossible to decipher what he’s saying, but it’s safe to say the lyrics assume the nature of past albums: sadistic, weird and perverse.

Assuming the lyrical content is consistent with past work, this album can’t be fully recommended. Over time the gimmick of disturbing, gore-filled lyrics proves to be tired and pointless, much like the Paris Hilton sex tape.

Regardless, this album rocks. Check out “Evisceration Plague” for some of Cannibal Corpse’s finest work to date.

Grade: B-

This entry was posted on Monday, January 26th, 2009, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.