The Harvest Floor by Cattle Decapitation
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Release date : January 2009
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
Background information
Review
Background information
In February 2008, it was revealed that Cattle Decapitation had begun penning material in support of a fourth major label studio full length. From June 18th to the 25th, the group performed a string of Californian dates, and debuted the material live. On August 1st, drummer David McGraw entered Castle Ultimate Studios in Oakland, California to lay down drum tracks with Zach Ohren (who's worked with All Shall Perish, and Decrepit Birth). Roughly midway into the month, Cattle Decapitation entered Sharkbite Studios to record the rest of the album, and subsequently mix the record, with the aid of Billy Anderson (who's credits include Mr. Bungle, Melvins and Swans). At this time, a video diary documenting recording sessions surfaced. Days later, mixing was underway. At a Halloween concert at Che Café in La Jolla, California, a new music video was filmed (later revealed to be for the track “Regret and the Grave”). That same day, the album's title was revealed as being The Harvest Floor, and its track listing was additionally disclosed.
The Harvest Floor features guest vocal appearances from Ross Sewage (Impaled / Ludicra) and Dino Sommese (Dystopia / Asunder), not to mention Jarboe (Swans) upon the title cut. Jackie Perez Gratz (Grayceon / Amber Asylum) lends electric cello upon several tracks, and Los Angeles noisician John Wiese additionally contributes. The Harvest Floor's artwork, meanwhile, was designed by Wes Benscoter. In mid November, “A Body Farm” was made available for streaming via Cattle Decapitation's official MySpace page, and a widget in support of the full length additionally surfaced. During mid December, an e-card materialized, and “The Gardeners of Eden” was available for streaming upon the outfit's MySpace page several days later. Helmed by Gary Smithson (who's worked with such acts as Prong, High On Fire and Goatwhore), the rest of “Regret and the Grave”'s video was filmed in the Burbank / northern Los Angeles area in mid January 2009. From the 16th to the 19th, all of The Harvest Floor's tracks were streamed via Buzzgrinder.com.
Review
Many, many years ago, this reviewer was the editor of an online magazine, and one writer had been in discussions with a new label we were both interested in working with. The writer received a package of new releases from the label in question, and went out of his very mind due to one specific group. Gently placing the 7" vinyl upon the turntable, he told me that nothing whatsoever could serve as sufficient warning for what this reviewer was about to hear. He was absolutely correct. The label in question was independent stalwart Three One G, and the 7" happened to be Cattle Decapitation's 1999 EP Human Jerky. To this very day, Cattle Decapitation continues to defy categorization each time they release new material. Within Extreme music's generic context, the group lead an almost supernatural existence, and 2009's The Harvest Floor elevates Cattle Decapitation to a new plane of existence. The outfit are so much more than merely “Extreme music”.
The Harvest Floor is an accomplished record. This reviewer isn't sure as to whether he's made such a statement regarding such a heavy full length, yet, in a similar fashion to The Locust, Cattle Decapitation have become much greater with age. Initially, the group was a brutal mess which drew your attention as the result of pure intrigue, but now they draw your attention given the tremendous control they exhibit in playing each respective instrument. For example, cuts such as “In Axetacy” and “We Are Horrible People” should sonically be in disarray. Within both tracks, so many things happen on so many different levels, and so much so that both numbers simply shouldn't work. Somehow, the group manages to harness everything, keeping all upon a hefty leash, but a leash nonetheless. A dynamic, interesting, and savagely barbaric duo of tunes, “In Axetacy” and “We Are Horrible People” rank amongst the group's greatest to date. Inaugural track “The Gardeners of Eden” and “The Product Alive” prove to be additionally excellent, allowing some brief melodic guitar passages to materialize, and surprise the listener in a most welcome fashion.
The atmospheric title cut, as well as its successor in “Regret and the Grave”, are the numbers which blow the listener's mind, however. “The Harvest Floor” low key, instrumental sonics grasp your focus, and following this, strings and harmonies inaugurate “Regret and the Grave”, the track subsequently unleashing an inner beast that tears your face away. Vocalist Travis Ryan utilizes what seems as many as a hundred or so different voices, something which happens to be downright creepy. Clocking in at roughly five minutes, this pairing could be deemed epic even. This is a far cry from the days when Cattle Decapitation compositions spanned well under a minute in length.
Should you be unfamiliar with Cattle Decapitation's material, then The Harvest Floor should be the album you initially investigate. In penning 2006's Karma.Bloody.Karma, Cattle Decapitation seemingly had nothing fresh to state, yet the mature quartet's 2009 opus reclaims the unbridled passion of 2004's Humanure. For once, the tracks are perfectly appropriate, and the group wholly realizes its potential. The Harvest Floor is the full length which Cattle Decapitation will be remembered for.
