Chunky, thick and well orchestrated annihilation frenzy of fantastic guitar-work in play here. The vocals go well with the music and what an array of riffs that Pat and Rob came up with on here. Totally killer music, death metal at its finest. One of their best releases to date to me. Fast riffs and some just so slow and thick that they simply slay. Longer album for these guys, about 44 minutes of simply well put death metal concoction. Really unique guitar-work, they got super-creative on here. It is just really blasting on here in terms of the guitar. That's what made this album an over-the-top creative execution. Corpsegrinder is mostly deep-throat on this one. But it fits so well with the guitars. [1]
Another fun, and popular, opinion, which I see every time a new Corpse album is birthed, is that “They’re finally back!” That’s great, except, they never left. You obviously haven’t been listening. Every album the band has put out since Gallery of Suicide has been a clinic in how to write solid death metal. In fact, Torture is verily no different than Evisceration Plague or Kill in overall sound and effect, in that it’s a well-produced onslaught of pestilent, powerful songs, grinding and slamming along with practiced and professional force. Yes, Cannibal Corpse continues to write Cannibal Corpse songs, how about that? If you’re somehow expecting something different, then that’s your fault, and hardly that of the band. I can see how the continued similarities can fuel the above argument concerning stagnation, but I come to Cannibal Corpse to get my ass handed to me by fun, brutal songs that act like short stories in the career of a serial murderer, and in that respect, Torture more than delivers. All of the songs here are unerringly good. I also enjoy the ‘they haven’t been good since Barnes’ argument. Have you heard the first few Cannibal Corpse albums? Yes, indeed, they are quite brutal, but the songwriting and riffing are nowhere near as strong as anything the band has done post-Vile, and Corpsegrinder continues to add a nice rhythmic punch with his trademark grunts. [2]
So what you can expect here is just riffs thrown at you that are creative, solos that are way technical digging deep into the fretboard, drums that go right in hand with their riffing, vocals that are deep and from beginning to end, expect no boredom whatsoever. In past releases, a lot of their music doesn't really progress, I'm blaming that on Owen, I'm just saying that their guitar combination nowadays is more solid and creative. It really comes down to: what Cannibal Corpse album is their best? Well, reflection on past and present, they really have come a long way. I'll admit that 'Butchered At Birth' is one of my favorites, but now, 'Torture' is up there too! Different lineup back then though. [1]
There isn’t a whole lot else to say concerning how Torture sounds, because you know how it sounds, a smattering of decrepit evil across a variety of tempos and riffing backdrops. Overall, I think it’s just a hair less compelling than it’s direct predecessor, Evisceration Plague, and it’s certainly not a reinvention for the band, so stop pretending it is. Or, if the fact that Corpse are still unerringly Corpse frustrates you, if you require the band to meaningfully evolve, I must humbly suggest you get the fuck away from me, because you’re an asshole, and your head likely smells similar to those boxers you’ve been wearing for 4 days. This is indeed business as usual, but that roughly translates to another dose of balls-out, belligerent, measured, fantastically talented death metal, and that’s all it strives to be. That’s all that it has ever strived to be, and there’s a very good reason Corpse are one of the most appreciated death metal bands on the planet, with legions of ravenous fans. Where you see complacency, exists only consistency, and anyone seeking straight-forward, throat-ripping death metal need look no further. Cannibal Corpse are at the point where they have nothing to prove to anyone, but that isn’t stopping them from releasing some of their strongest material to date, an album that stands shoulder to shoulder with anyone else in the genre. So go on, relax that sphincter, pull the broom out, and let your no doubt pre-conceived opinion wash away in a satisfying flood of classic brutality. [2]
Tracks
Tracks
- Demented Aggression
- Sarcophagic Frenzy
- Scourge of Iron
- Encased in Concrete
- As Deep as the Knife Will Go
- Intestinal Crank
- Followed Home Then Killed
- The Strangulation Chair
- Caged... Contorted
- Crucifier Avenged
- Rabid
- Torn Through
If you like it, please buy it on their official website/merchandise.
Cannibal Corpse - Torture (2012)
References [1] [2]
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