Six Feet Under
Death Rituals ()
Wydane przez Metal Blade RecordsRok wydania Kraj USANapisał Wouter7
A decade after their last good record (1999's "Maximum Violence") Tampa, Florida groove godfathers Six Feet Under deliver a record that is worthy of their name and legacy. Much like their 1995 debut "Haunted" and the aforementioned "Maximum Violence" this new album sees the band delivering an inspired and lethal dose of primitive groove death metal. Whereas the output of the band over the last decade has been stale and questionable at best "Death Rituals" is a more violent, fast and all around heavier affair that reminds exactly as to why this band was tauted as the next big thing in the genre. Drummer Greg Gall is fierce behind the kit pounding away in relentless fury. Steve Swanson (ex-Massacre) follows suit with Gall and churns out chugging groove riffs that remind of both Obituary and Bolt Thrower while laying down his best lead/solo work to date. Bassist Terry Butler (Denial Fiend, ex-Massacre, ex-Death) provides the record with a booming low end rumble, while Chris Barnes grunts in his typical fashion although his range, timing and choice of vocal lines can't in any way compete with his tenure with Cannibal Corpse. Regularly riffs, chord progressions and rhythms feel lifted from earlier recordings and it seems that the band is cannibalising itself. Compared to the records preceding this one, Barnes' vocals sound diabolic, gruff and spirited although it becomes clear that his voice has suffered a lot over the years. Tracks such as ‘Death By Machete', ‘None Will Escape', ‘Into the Crematorium', ‘Murder Addiction' and ‘Involuntary Movement Of Dead Flesh' are the best the band has written in years. The cover of Mötley Crüe's ‘Bastard' is a nice little touch. The album was recorded at the esteemed Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with producer Chris Caroll with Toby Wright supervising the mixing and Bill Metoyer handling drum production. "Death Rituals" comes with a organic, warm sounding guitar tone, thundering bass lines and the best drum sound Six Feet Under have had in years. "Death Rituals" is by no means the band's second coming, but it is surely their most consistent record in many a moon.
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