[Track Review] CANNIBAL CORPSE get back on the deck as we discuss "The Murderer's Pact"

Not a lot of time has passed since we last talked about Cannibal Corpse. The reason was the first reveal from their new Skeletal Domain in the form of "Sadistic Embodiement" (here). No one hated the song and a good number ok'd and even liked it a whole bunch. You can read about it in the link above. The Corpse is dear to us, so when another bite from the forthcoming long player surfaced, we wanted to talk about that as well. In some weird, perverted way, some of us were looking for the band to make a misteps of sorts after a line of good-to-great releases and some stellar songs, in a period many call the post-Barnes era.
Again, we had a round table discussion. You might want to peep it after listening to CC's newest of new, "The Murderer's Pact" below. Chime in to agree, disagree or add something new to the discussion!

For much better quality, enjoy this sondcloud stream over at Blabbermouth.

- Birkir This song rules. That's my first thought. Stronger that "Sadistic Embodiment" we did last time around.
- Sigurður I have to agree with the band when they say that this songwriting is not the "same-old." Through the years I have enjoyed every new CC release because of the straight forward brutality, knife-edge riffing and speed. This is written differently, more grimness and I dare say, the parts I enjoy the most make me think of Meshuggah.
- Birkir CC is a curious case because, after dipping down for a period around the turn of the century, they seem to consistently get better. An anomaly for sure amongst the elite of canon death metal bands, and a rare one at that.

- Eyvindur (twitter) I don't hear the evil they speak off. Hear no evil, see no evil, there's no evil. Okay, maybe a touch of evil, but still there's no dirt. It's too clean.
- Birkir I see what you're getting at. Them old Yankees seem to interpret"evil" in a different way than us. Especially when it comes to pop culture. Did CC ever get or sound evil? I don't believe so. Surely stories of violence and gore married with heavy music doesn't equal evil.
- Peter (twitter) Lyrically obscene, musically, fast and heavy. Evil? Sort of... And here's why! They've written some classics in the death metal canon... Butchered at Birth, Tomb of the Mutilated, Gallery of Suicide, hell I'll even say that Kill was a solid record, but this new record to me, displays that they still can write some pummelling tunes and not just go for shock value. they've whipped up a record i'm sure most fans will love, and doubters won't be able to completely turn their noses up to.
- Birkir I'm of the mind that it's been a long ass time since they sounded cartooney (whatever that means). This is not a fan-boy comment. I'd stick it too them if they sucked or sounded disinterested and going through the motions, but the band is somehow hungry and writing good songs still.
- Eyvindur I was commenting on Webster's comments in the article you linked in the beginning. CC never sounded evil? Fuck, man, have you not heard Tomb of the Mutilated? Don't give me that CC no evil bullshit. It just whack, man.
- Birkir I see that, hahahaha! But even as a kid, a death metal obsessed teenager I didn't catch the evil vibes. An I was a contemporary to those early albums. Maybe my radar is just off! Maybe I was and still am truly an evil person and laugh in the face of entertainment!
- Eyvindur Did you not feel the depravity that Butchered and Tomb offered us? Yes, we were both young and happy when those records were released. I remember those days like they were twenty years ago, good days.
- Birkir I think you are right. Yes I felt that to an extent. It was just so foreign and exotic to me. To graduate from thrash metal to death metal. It was more intimidated that evil to me. It was spooky and exciting at the same time. Wow, we've only talked about the impressions and impact in the past, not this new song hahahaha!

- Baldur Beck (twitter) Orgasmus maximus!
- Birkir The more I listen the more I like this. There are some default later-day CC tremola riffing parts here that go real high up the neck, giving off that twisted wasp-like feel. But over all the song is really dynamic yet feeling very complete, somewhat difficult and forceful.
- Eyvindur This corpse is too polished.
- Birkir As compared to what? Are you talking about the writing and performance? If this is polished, then they have been polished ever since The Bleeding. Fight me, you hooded criminal! If you are referring to the production, I see your point. With Erik Rutan gone as a producer/engineer the sound got a little less murky and that dark tone he managed is replaced with one that pierces through more, with more top. We'll see, maybe that's too much for my ears when I listen to the whole thing. I wil say though, this song is lacking a bit when it comes to the flow. "Sadistic Embodiement" flowed like lava into my butt. "The Murderer's Pact" is much heavier though. Seems like I've changed my mind, eh.
- Eyvindur Yes, they have been too polished since 1996. I will not argue with you on that. With barnes went the perversion and dirt. They are a helluva live band, heavy as fuck, but their albums with the Corpsegrinder have always been too clean for my taste.

Baldur is NBA Ísland (blog) The only death metal basketball blog in the world.
Eyvindur is Currentz (blog), as well as overloard at Andfari. He IS Andfari (blog). You are nothing.

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