Evisceration Plague by Cannibal Corpse
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Release date : February 2009
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
Background information
Review
Background information
In early November 2008, the title of Cannibal Corpse's eleventh studio album was revealed to be Evisceration Plague, and the full length's track listing was additionally disclosed. As was the case for 2006's Kill, the record was produced by guitarist Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal / ex-Morbid Angel), and laid down at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida. Designed by longtime collaborator Vincent Locke, the album's artwork was unveiled during mid December. Locke designed two pieces; a “dark and foreboding” item for the cover, and a “violent and gory” item in support of the CD packaging's interior. Soon after, audio samples of all tracks featured upon Evisceration Plague were available for listening via Amazon.com.
A preview of a documentary DVD filmed regarding Evisceration Plague surfaced in early January 2009, with another three materializing as the month unfolded. Earlier that January, the title cut was made available for streaming via Metal Blade Records' official website. Directed by Dale “Rage” Resteghini (who's worked with the likes of Mudvayne, Trivium and Hatebreed amongst others), a music video for the track was filmed in Northern New Jersey on the 21st. Late in the month, the entire album was available for streaming via Cannibal Corpse's official MySpace page. Evisceration Plague was issued in the following formats; as a limited-edition digipack which includes a bonus track (“Skull Fragment Armor”) and a bonus DVD, as a jewelcase CD, and as a limited splatter vinyl.
Review
Since 1988, only one thing has preoccupied the minds of Cannibal Corpse's respective members (irrespective of who comprised the lineup at any given time): violence. To the group's credit, and to the chagrin of countless critics worldwide, the act has never strayed from their goals. Irrespective of musical genre, Cannibal Corpse is, at the very least, the most consistent group. Each Cannibal Corpse full length always boasts brutality and malevolence, and always happens to be over the top both lyrically and artistically. Evisceration Plague adheres to such traditions, and should you be a Cannibal Corpse fanatic, those words will likely bring an emaciated smile to your blood smeared face.
In this reviewer's opinion, Evisceration Plague has minimal work to perform. Kill's extremely raw and often lackadaisical sound was one of the weaker moments within Cannibal Corpse's career, and after two decades as an active outfit, one had to wonder as to whether the group was finally upon its very last leg. Evisceration Plague answers this question with a massive “fuck you”. As soon as “Priests of Sodom”'s groovy and semi-understandable sound materializes, your ears perk up, and immediately begin to wonder what might subsequently surface. To date, “Priests of Sodom” is one of the greatest tracks Cannibal Corpse has penned, its anthemic demeanour rooted in a vein which the group hasn't explored in latter day material.
“To Decompose” proves additionally outstanding, particularly its ripping solo roughly one third into the track. For a music genre which receives nothing except disrespect, few guitarists can approach what Pat O’Brien and Rob Barrett execute in this specific instance. Surprisingly musical, the track perfectly leads into the pummeling “A Cauldron of Hate”. The grinding title cut provides yet another highlight and, again, the word sinister comes to mind from the inaugural note to the concluding note. Something regarding the downtuned, warped sound of the guitars as they spiral out of control, all whilst the rhythm section holds the composition together, is wholly addictive. Listening to the title cut equates to viewing a train wreck - you cannot pull yourself away. Evisceration Plague's other tracks simply utilize more unadulterated brutality set to complex guitar work, and groove heavy rhythms. At its core, the songwriting is formulaic, but sets itself apart from the pack due to the masterful musicianship of all involved.
Despite the fact that this reviewer finds joy in most of the group's material, it's always extremely difficult to critique a Cannibal Corpse full length. What can be said that actually hasn't been said previously? Cannibal Corpse's catalogue sales exceed one million, and for a group which caters to no-one, and ranks amongst the bloodiest, most violent you'll ever hear, this speaks volumes. The outfit's material has been banned in quite a number of countries for one reason or another, yet they nonetheless triumph. The ultimate underdog, Cannibal Corpse lies at the top yet again as a consequence of Evisceration Plague's issue. If you like Cannibal Corpse's material, then you'll love this specific record.
