APESHIT

The world’s biggest and best selling death metal band return with their self-avowed “heaviest, most brutal” album that they’ve ever made. While it’s debatable as to whether this is true given the band’s large body of work, what is certain is that Kill is their best album in years. The aggression level has been upped a few notches and that killing desire comes through loud and clear. As you could have guessed, this is CANNIBAL doing what they do. You’ve got the pounding riffs, Corpsegrinder’s guttural growls and rapid fire vocal patterns, and that unmistakable Paul Mazurkiewicz drumming. There aren’t any curveballs that takes away from all the blood and guts strewn about the record. The transition from the resignation of longtime guitarist, Jack Owen, and the subsequent re-recruiting of former guitarist, Rob Barrett, seems to have gone smoothly as Kill shows no signs of impairment. The album cover is the first to bypass the obligatory Vincent Locke artwork and opt for the album’s title is large, bold letters. But, it’s relatively insignificant as the music lays intact. CANNIBAL fans will revel in the total bloodbath that is Kill. As wise men once said, “If you want blood, you got it.” (Metal Blade Records)