Full disclosure: the first time I heard Carcass' Heartwork, I just about shit myself. I was 14, and up to that point death metal for the most part was just noise to me, so it was amazing to me that a band that extreme could also be so catchy and memorable.
Exhumed started out as a band hugely influenced by Carcass, so it's no surprise that they were able to capture the same qualities that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck when I first heard Heartwork, but at the same time adding their own signature touches that truly give Necrocracy a life of it's own. An anthemic element, amazing drumming (courtesy of Deeds Of Flesh drummer Mike Hamilton), ripping leads and their usual sense of humor that makes songs like (the album's lead single) "Coins Upon The Eyes" (listen) and "The Rotting" stick out like a very refreshing sore thumb in an age of dead serious death metal bands sacrificing good songwriting in an effort to outbrutal and outshred each other. The songs almost sound, dare I say it, fun. Yes, I said fun. Exhumed clearly love what they do, and the enthusiasm they had for these songs is very palpable on Necrocracy.
On top of that, the recording sounds top notch and very organic, and allows for every instrument on the album to be heard loud and clear, benefiting the quality songwriting without falling into the same overproduction pitfalls death metal has been suffering from over the past few years.
All in all, this is a quality album that has much to offer to both seasoned veterans of the genre and curious newcomers alike. Two severed thumbs up! [Relapse]
- Tony Howard
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EXHUMED - "Coins Upon the Eyes" (Official Video) by RelapseRecords
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