with Cannibal Corpse - The
Wretched Spawn by
Tim Byrnes
..
Triumph of the Will: Death Metal May
Be Your Santa Clause
Hot on the heels of their career encompassing
3 CD set "15 Years Killing Spree", Buffalo's own Cannibal Corpse waste
no time getting back into the fray with "The Wretched Spawn", 14 cuts of
the kind precise brutality that has kept them (in all their forms) at the
top of the Death Metal heap for over a decade. This record is another genre
defining collection of double time drums and hammering, down tuned 7 strings
and cavernous bass lines, all in the service of Corpsegrinder's depictions
of the horrors of death delivered in his trademark ragged shout. The most
intense of bands working this intense side of the street, CC demonstrate
a courage in their convictions, a belief in their art and their straightforward
style of delivery that often gets pegged as "regressive" by critic types
and others, but to my mind should really be admired. The band has a vision.
They explore the dark side of things with
little pretension, perhaps trading some subtlety for more power, but power
is what Death Metal is, to me, all about. Not just power as in power chord,
either. When listening to Cannibal Corpse (or Slayer or Deicide - which
I admit isn't that often, but I do drink from the Death Metal well from
time to time) I feel something I simply can't get listening to anything
else. I won't pretend to be able to understand the lyrics, (although visits
to darklyrics.com filled me in on the lyrics to previous CDs - "Spawn"
not having been posted yet - where I found what can only be called intelligent
resignation and a fearless facing-up to the grim realities of a world heading
South in a handbasket) but the rushed urgency and spleen-venting rage charging
out of my speakers makes me somehow feel stronger.
My 15 year old nephew Zack and his friends
are way into Death Metal and when I ask them what it is that draws them
to this music, they can't explain. None of them. They don't have to, that
malicious grin says it all. But here's my take anyway: With songs
like "Psychotic Precision", "Decency Deprived" and "Frantic Disembowelment"
Cannibal Corpse (and DM bands in general) take the essence of the human
condition, that we are an animal who know's it's going to die, and usurp
it's reign over our physical, psychic and spiritual selves by pushing back
the sense of the inevitable with relentless blasts of purpose. Far from
wallowing in death imagery as p*** off yer parent's" mindlessness, CC
actively engage the all too human concepts of torture and murder, take
them into the fires of their creation and spit them out with a big "So
what". You can kill the body (over and over again in all kinds of horrible
ways and in all kinds of horrible names) but the spirit of life, and in
some cases the engine of that spirit is Hate, let's face it, is more powerful.
One last question. Why is it that blues
bands release the same album over and over again and are considered to
be "in the tradition" and lauded for staying true to a strictly regimented
and codified musical form but when peoples like Cannibal Corpse and
Yngwie Malmsteen demonstrate the same kind of dedication to vision they
are lambasted as "regressive" and "stagnant'? Just askin'.
CD Info and Links
Cannibal Corpse - The Wretched Spawn Label: Metal
Blade
Rating:
Tracks: Severed Head Stoning
Psychotic Precision
Decency Defied
Frantic Disembowelment
Rotted Body Landslide
Cyanide Assassin
Festering In The Crypt
Nothing Left To Mutilate
Blunt Force Castration
Wretched Spawn, The
Slain
Bent Backwards And Broken
They Deserve To Die
Posted by vjKz2mPKCJ:
hA4ZpZoqINjI6 uipsCTSV0eQXlO rfMlzgZxBZTT
Posted by ****:
death metal is for retards
Posted by alex:
this band are stupid, all these DEATH metal, BLACK metal bands are ridiculous, you cant make heavy music by just screaming, if you want angry music, listen to arch enemy. this band still have the image you wanna give youself, but they write amazing music. Why bother makin music when all you wanna do is sell t shirts of some guy gettin murderer or something so a stupid little fag can wear it and feel cool
Posted by Not Important:
Cannibal Corpse steal all their lyrics from my journal. Now everybody will know about my private life. Curse you CC!
Posted by ???:
cc is not metal they are f***n death metal you stupid sh**s!
Posted by o:
As a follow up to "meathook sodomy", CC should come out with a song called "we can suck your d!ck harder than an industrial strength 5,000 horsepower vaccum cleaner"
Posted by buzz:
HAHA CC is such a joke
Posted by 1:
CC should not get any novelty point for their lyrics. Anyone who puts their mind to it can write gross and crapty lyrics like them. The vocalist is crap. Any good metal band's talent puts CC's "talent" to shame.
Posted by 123:
CC it's a fukkin joke, WORST METAL BAND EVER!
Posted by ...:
Cannibal Corpse as a band is formed from a couple of retards who get a hardon when thinking of shagging a dead childs severed head. SICK ! Go get some help
Posted by Bacon:
Yo, I gotta give props to Big Gay Death Metal Fan fo commin out of tha closet. Im gay too. I fuking love growling men. Tha growling men of death metal have got that special macho'ness that only The Village People ever had. That CC song called Meathook Sodomy took The Village People's song 'YMCA' to tha next level and it also helped me come out of tha closet about my homosexuality. PS I blow alot of guys in tha water as well as out of tha water fo sho. peace --bacon--
Posted by PSYCHO:
I ALSO WEAR A COOKIE MONSTER COSTUME WHEN I'M LISTENING TO CANNIBAL CORPSE BECAUSE THE COOKIE MONSTER IS THE PERFECT PERSONIFICATION OF MY HATE AND FIERCENESS.
Posted by PSYCHO:
CANNIBAL CORPSE ITS A MINIMUM EXPRESSION OF THE HATE I FEEL, SO I΄LL GET SOME IDEAS FROM THE LYRICS TO BUTCHER YOU FάCKERS!!!!
Posted by Malduk:
www.lusus-naturae.com
Posted by Bacon:
i fuking love cannibal corpse, listening to them makes me wanna kill some foo's right quick.CC is soo fucing rugged, there alot better then most weenie ass new bands comeing out trying to be all hard core, man fck that shi*, CC is the best. musically they blow alot of guitarests and bassists out of the water, and George has the cleanest death growl ive ever heard.yep, fo sho, i hope to see them sometime. peace
--bacon--
Posted by Big Gay Death Metal Fan:
All you gay bashers should come out of the closet. You would be a lot happier. If that's not poosible then go join a christian bible group. they love people like you.
Posted by people who dont like CC are fruits:
i honestly want to know if cannibal have any videos before 1994.......with chris barnes
Posted by The Nahmias:
"One last question. Why is it that blues bands release the same album over and over again and are considered to be "in the tradition" and lauded for staying true to a strictly regimented and codified musical form but when peoples like Cannibal Corpse and Yngwie Malmsteen demonstrate the same kind of dedication to vision they are lambasted as "regressive" and "stagnant'? Just askin'." That's true. And if you still say, "Because their music blows," well... you're a faggot.
Posted by The Nahmias:
Cannibal Corpse is really good... I mean I don't ALWAYS listen to them. Sometimes I want to chill out and listen to something like In Flames, and other melodic death metal. But, still, Cannibal Corpse is very good to listen to when you're f*cking mad as sh*t.
Posted by marco bernal:
cannibal corpse is the best band ever
Posted by Eerie Mind of Brett Blumfield:
Death metal rules! I enjoy the ear-bleeding guitar screams, the gruff grunts of Chris Barnes, and the taste of rotting flesh and raw intestines evident on my breath; blood stained to my face, running down my chin. Death rock and horror, what a great combination!
Posted by meathook sodomy?? what a fag band:
yeah, death metal all the way...all the way to the f*ckin gay bar. youd have to be either a fag or a retard to like this sh*t band. this band sucks gopher cock...gay gopher cock
Posted by T.J.:
They suck. Musicians are good. Singer is horrid.
Posted by Stumpie:
death metal all the motherf***ing way thanks for an awesome 15 years so far CC
Posted by Stumpie:
Corpsegrinder is a great songwriter
Posted by Riggz:
Cannibal Corpse are Awesome!!
Posted by victor Cisneros:
Cannibal corpse one of my best music, what i see all life and brujeria is well to. thank you for your song's chris barnes your are better then you thing you fan number one victor cisneros. good bye cabrones
Posted by a homophobic:
gay people are gay
Posted by the bran:
this is some crazy poop man, way out death metal at its best, im telling you, crazy poop
Posted by victor Cisneros :
cannibal corpse is the best what i see. chris barnes, george fisher,chris drennen jack owens the best speaker and brujeria
Posted by victor Cisneros :
cannibal corpse is the best what i see. chris barnes, george fisher,chris drennen jack owens the best speaker and brujeria
Posted by victor Cisneros :
cannibal corpse is the best and brujeria
Posted by vicioustorm:
cannibal corpse owns you all
Posted by OzRocker:
The new album rocks. What's with all these homo comments? Let's stay focussed on the metal.
Posted by vic rattlehead:
death metal will rip your bowel out you faggots
Posted by President of The Gay Lesbian Alliance, GLAAD:
We're very happy that you support gay rights, Tim. We here at GLAAD (The Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) support Death Metal too. I've loved Death Metal for many years. Where else but Death Metal could we find people willing to sing openly about gay sex. It's marvelous! Cannibal Corpse makes gay sex seem tough and cool. This helps our cause tremendously and we owe Cannibal Corpse a great deal of thanks. I think Mr. Tim Byrnes deserves a GLAAD award.
Posted by Balding Man with Down's Syndrome, a Mullet, and a Cannibal Corpse T-Shirt on:
Cookie Monster Metal will never die!! Neither will mullets or acid washed jeans!! Long Live Stupid 90's Trends!!! 1990 Forever!!!
Posted by Aaron:
Solid review!! i thought you showd quite well that not all people who are into Death Metal i brainless neanderthals so good job and keep up the good work Tim.
Posted by tim:
Yo, Thor, As a matter of fact I do support Gay Rights, as I support all human rights. My sexuality nonewithstanding, I think I gave some fairly intelligent reasons why I liked this record, none of which have anything to do with your homophobia. And, yeah, calling a song "Meathook Sodomy" will get you points in my book on style alone. MetalguitarisT, could you please define "true metal" for me (although I'm guessing that's a code word for "metal you like". What a lame couple of comments gentlemen, I suggest you try harder next time.
Posted by Jesus:
all the faggots that dont like canibal corpse should die death metal will neverdie how ironic is that my song to you all is "hammersmashface" you smelly cnts deserve it. Personally i would meathook sodomize all of you to hear you squirm while you listen to your pu$$y sellout bands. PS rot in hell
Posted by Rule of thumb:
A good rule of thumb for anything on this site is: If Hobo likes it, it's gay.
Posted by MetalguitarisT:
Any group of retarded kindergardeners banging on garbage cans could play Cannibal Corpses music. Only a retarded poser would be dumb enough to consider Cannibal Corpse real metal
Posted by Thor:
That pointless review shouldn't have even been written. Tim Byrnes is a gay middle aged old fart that doesn't even listen to metal which he admits in that sh1tty review. The REAL reason he likes bands like Cannibal Corpse is that he's a Gay Rights supporter. Any band who would write a song like Meathook Sodomy is a good band in his opinion.
Posted by Thor:
That pointless review shouldn?t have even been written. Tim Byrnes is a gay middle aged old fart that doesn?t even listen to metal which he admits in that sh1tty review. The REAL reason he likes bands like Cannibal Corpse is that he?s a Gay Rights supporter. Any band who would write a song like Meathook Sodomy is a good band in his opinion.
Posted by Black Metal Rules:
Death Metal is dead. It died of AIDS back in the nineties
Posted by TheMutilator:
Hey ArchEnemy: thanks for telling us the faggoty, half-arsed bands you listen to. Now we can all point and laugh while we eat festering organs and listen to "Entrails Ripped from a Virgins C*nt."
Posted by Rye:
I think that Jack Owens should shove his six string up your a$$ for saying that sh!t about CC, while Fisher rips your f*cking head off and skull f*cks you. They built the foundation of extreme death metal. I play alot of their music in my band and not just anyone can pull off brutal riffs with such precision and speed as them.
Posted by stop f*cking your hand and pay attention again:
so opeth has more talent than cannibal corpse at least whats on their albums got recorded not added
Posted by stop f*cking your hand and pay attention:
i was looking for the new cannibal corpse album and ended up here i don't know what's wrong with "jeff" but it's not cc's fault that jeff considers linkin park is hard rock,not pussy rock or that he can't keep his milimeter peter out of his pillow.
Posted by tim:
Zack, we've had this converation before buddy. Sodomy isn't a word you throw around when you want to act all cool and tough. Sodomy's a word you throw around when you want litigation. I love you like a brother but I'm gonna have to ask ya to keep your small minded, smaller peckerwood, subhuman, idiotic and poorly written crap to yrself. Next.
Posted by Zack Byrnes (The Reviewer's 15 year old nephew):
The reason me and my friends could do nothing but 'grin maliciously' when my Uncle Tim Byrnes asked us about death metal, was because- thanks to Uncle Tim forcing me and the other boys in the neighborhood to listen to his crappy old homo-erotic album collection, we have all begun to love being sodomized by my Uncle Tim. And all we have to do is put on a deathmetal song like Cannibal Corpeses song "MEATHOOK SODOMY" and Uncle Tim is filled with gay strength like he said, and transforms into SoDoMyMaN and will sodomize any little boy he sees. That's always alot of fun. And that's the real reason me and my friends like Death Metal---Sodomy with Uncle Tim :-)
Posted by Arch Enemy:
CC are untalented dinosaurs. If CC attempted to play melodic metal like bands in this century are doing (like Arch Enemy, Opeth and so on) then it would be obvious how totally talentless CC are. So CC stick to playing the same cheesy sh!t they played a hundred years ago. If you've heard 1 CC song, you've heard them all
Posted by cannibal corpse is a joke:
cannibal corpse sucks balls and always have
Posted by Zamiel:
I think the notion of labeling Cannibal Corpse as grindcore is absurd. And JeffW you are obviously a trendy faggot to be talking about how death metal "LEiK uSEd tO BeE KeVVL n0w dEy R N0t iN Ne Mo"
Posted by tim:
Jeff, By 'it's not 1990 anymore' do you mean to imply that CC should somehow retool their vision to fit some arbitrary version of 'modernity'? Following that logic should Chuck Berry be required to use samplers and wear dreads next time he plays 'Johnny B. Goode'? Or play a 7 string guitar and wear a backwards ballcap? And yes, to some people it is the same thing. CC may hoe a narrow row stylistically, but they come to play every time with spirit and conviction. Time doesn't exist.
Posted by JeffW:
The reason bands like Cannibal Corpse are labelled as "regressive" and "stagnant" is because the novelty of these SEMEN GARGLING VOCALS bands wore off over 12 years ago. Now it just sounds like boring repetitive sh*t. Someone should finally buy Cannibal Corpse a current calendar..its not 1990 anymore.
Posted by Soul Crusher:
Hey, Legend: Go listen to Britney Spears - we need more purveyors of extreme music like CC, I'm glad they're sticking to their guns.
Posted by Legend:
CC would be better filed under 'cookie monster crap'
Posted by Shayn:
The reason bands like CC are labelled as "regressive" is because the people who make comments like that don't like Cannabil Corpse and death metal for that matter. Nuff said.
Posted by Hobo:
Very well written review, but I think CC would be better filed under 'grindcore.'
