Anything but ‘Torture’

Cannibal Corpse continue to sever heads and crack skulls with their latest release “Torture.” The album has 12 new tracks that not only continue the brutality they have always delivered, but bring some added flavors to the mix as well.

The first song of the album “Demented Aggression” is a powerful frenzy that starts the album off as expected. Pummeling riffs, drums and vocals all deliver what you’d expect from the Cannibal Corpse.

“Sarcophagic Frenzy” is an interesting second track. It jumps all around the rhythm world. The song speeds up and slows down at random with grooves that really add a ton of heaviness. The bridge section continues to twist and turn the song into an evil roller coaster.

“Scourge of Iron” tricks you with its intro as it sounds like its going to be a fast one, and then slows down dramatically. This being a much slower number is not usually something Cannibal Corpse does, and sounds more like an old Morbid Angel song. However, it works in slowing the album down for a few minutes to prepare you for the rest of the album.

The next three tracks do the exact opposite of “Scourge of Iron” and are put in perfect places on the song order. “Encased In Concrete,” “As Deep As the Knife Will Go,” and the highly painful sounding “Intestinal Crank” will have every Cannibal Corpse fan old and new banging their heads in approval.

Then comes the horror movie inspired “Followed Home Then Killed.” The lyrics capture the feeling of classic horror movies such as “The Last House On The Left” and “I Spit On Your Grave.” It’s something very fresh and needed for the album.

Longtime fans listening to the album for the first time will have probably said by now “It’s been eight tracks and there still hasn’t been an Alex Webster solo.” Those prayers finally get answered in “The Strangulation Chair.” Webster’s bass solo destroys everything you’ve ever heard and is one of his best if not the best on a Cannibal Corpse album. The band knew how lethal this was so they chose to starve their fans a little to build up to it.

Well played Cannibal Corpse, well-played.

“Caged…Contorted” has a big jazz influence throughout the song. It captures the feeling of the song’s title and continues to throw the listener around the world. The song never let’s go and keeps changing the formula until the end.

The last three tracks on the album go the safe but fulfilling route of sounding like stock Cannibal Corpse songs. They all stay very technical, solo wildly and keep a fast pace.“Crucifier Avenged” sounds like what you’d expect, “Rabid” is rabid, and “Torn Through” closes the album very strong. It’s nothing new, but it is a smart move on Cannibal Corpse’s part to round out the last quarter of the album with these numbers.

“Torture” is the best album Cannibal Corpse have put out in a long time. It delivers on all accounts. George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher’s voice sounds just as good as he did on his first album with the group, 1996’s “Vile.” Alex Webster’s magic fingers are stronger and faster than ever. Drummer Paul Mazurkiewics is faster and louder than he’s ever been. Pat O’Brien and Rob Barrett continue to deliver epic riffs with immaculate precision. The band has gotten better with age. There are clearly no signs of slowing down.