Rough Edge: Carnifex CD Reviews

CARNIFEX

"Until I Feel Nothing" (Victory; 2011)

Reviewed by Mike SOS

Carnifex come back with their fourth installment of aural brutality, the 10-track release "Until I Feel Nothing."

Peddling the much-maligned deathcore style they’ve championed since their 2005 debut, this album finds the San Diego quintet unleashing their formulaic ferocity with a refreshing sense of brevity and a pronounced increase of death metal in the mix, assisting the blistering guitars to sting with more force while giving the newly acquired vocal output of high-pitched shrieks and rasps a discernibly blackened hue.

But don’t expect a complete metallic overhaul here, as Carnifex continues to carefully follow the blueprint of dizzying technical parts/savage bass drop breakdown/ repeat to a fault, despite the slight tweaks in their delivery to create another love it or hate it polarizing effort.

For more information, check out http://www.myspace.com/carnifexmetal.

"The Diseased and the Poisoned" (Victory; 2008)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

I'll be honest right up front here and tell you that I'm not a fan of the vocal style found on Carnifex's "The Diseased and the Poisoned." My initial reaction upon placing the CD into my player was, "Well, here's another one to send out to (East Coast Editor) Christopher J. Kelter." He understands these type of vocals better than I do.

Instead, I decided to stick it out. And I'm glad I did. Although "The Diseased..." didn't make me a fan of the deathcore vocal style (which, at least here, is really little more than a series of demonic growls and screams), it did hold my attention throughout its twelve tracks and gave me the opportunity to find some incredible, extreme music that I might have otherwise missed.

"The Diseased and the Poisoned" isn't terribly technical nor is it hellaciously fast. Instead, it's more of a big ass machine-gun staccato backed with those growling vocals. Technical or not, fast or not, the one thing this CD does is kick ass and, if you can get past the deathcore vocals (or perhaps if you really like them), then you'll probably enjoy this CD.

Carnifex: Scott - Vokills; Shawn - Drums; Cory - Guitar; Ryan - Guitar; Fred - Bass.

For more information, check out http://www.myspace.com/carnifexmetal.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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