Review Summary: While perhaps a bit sterile for some, Exhumed's first true effort since 2003's Anatomy Is Destiny is thrilling enough to easily satisfy the majority of deathgrind (or even just death metal) listeners.
Exhumed is nowadays easily the largest "Carcass-grind" band, utilising a fast and quite melodic form of gore-grind easily comparable to
Impaled,
Haemorrhage, and most obviously
Carcass themselves. While the band had released Garage Days Re-Regurgitated in 2005, no real LP by the band was released by the band following arguably their finest effort, Anatomy Is Destiny; that is, until 2011's All Guts, No Glory, which clearly shows the band's experience through some of their most consistent songwriting.
Let's just clarify that this album is certainly not as strong as Anatomy Is Destiny. None of the moments here quite match the viceregal energy and strong songwriting that were on display there. However, what's clear is that the band is very comfortable with their music on this release. There are no wayward steps in style, no serious points of weakness, and the band's songwriting is perhaps at its most competent (although not necessarily ambitious). The band's style and sound are polished to a fine sheen here, and it makes it the band's most accessible effort. Coincidentally, it's also probably the least wild sounding of the band's releases, mostly because of the greater death metal influences and reduced grind influences (save for the predictably strong vocal performance), and thus it's a little sterile compared to their releases of old, especially considering the very clinical production.
In essence, however, the Exhumed thrills are still there. Certainly the riffs quality hasn't dropped, as
As Hammer To Anvil.
Your Funeral, My Feast and
Distorted And Twisted To Form feature vicious riffs that power the songs along easily. Additionally, the slightly lower song lengths compared to Anatomy Is Destiny helps to keep the pacing strong without any section really dragging, and ever-present melodic solos never disappoint. Really, the only weakness is that nothing really manages to stand as a highlight, and with the relative lack of variation (only
Through Cadaver Eyes sets itself apart due to its intro) the album might not end up being too memorable. Just bear in mind that nothing will seem astray.
Recommended Tracks:
As Hammer To Anvil
Distorted And Twisted To Form
Your Funeral, My Feast
Dis-Assembly Line
