Rough Edge: Goatwhore CD Reviews

GOATWHORE

"Carving Out the Eyes of God" (Metal Blade; 2009)

Reviewed by Mike SOS

NOLA’s nefarious blackened metal squad, Goatwhore, return with another smattering of evil in the form of a hellacious hybrid of metallic fury entitled "Carving Out the Eyes of God."

This diabolical 10-track display of demonic aggression is armed with a discernible degree of thrash metal mannerisms (“Shadow of a Rising Knife”) but maintains the trademark menacing black metal gallop (“In Legions, I Am Wars of Wrath”) this quartet is best known for.

Once again produced by extreme metal guru Erik Rutan, this disc teems with a rabid rapid-fire six-string ruthlessness (“Apocalyptic Havoc”) and benefits by another chalice raised to the netherworld performance by vocalist Ben Falgoust, whose crisp yet malevolent raspy roar leads the impious charge from the bowels of Hell to the Earth’s surface.

For more information, check out http://www.goatwhore.net.

"A Haunting Curse" (Metal Blade; 2006)

Reviewed by Mike SOS

New Orleans metal mongers Goatwhore return with yet another round of the much maligned outfit's infamous string of bad luck and catastrophe nearly behind them with "A Haunting Curse."

Showcasing a decisively leaner and meaner demonstration of pure destruction, this metallic monstrosity doles out an album’s worth of spellbindingly demonic delights from the opening chaos that is "Wear These Scars of Testimony.” Following black metal patterns of the finest from Europe's yesteryears and melding them with a slew of death metal nuances, this 11-track offering truly can be considered a crossover entity that misanthropes everywhere can agree on.

Tracks like the foreboding "Forever Consumed Oblivion" incorporates the corpse-painted stomp of any respected Swedish troupe, while the guitars on "Diabolical Submergence of Rebirth" recapture the bleak vibes from the recesses of the underground black metal scene. Blast beats galore, foreboding musical gloom and doom passages, and evil throat-ripping vocals are staples across "A Haunting Curse," yet there's something more ethereal propelling this latest foray into madness. Could it be vocalist Ben Falgoust's brush with death for the ump-teenth time? The wake of Hurricane Katrina's ravagings which delayed this release? Or the fact that this album was recorded in a supposedly haunted environment? No matter, because Goatwhore’s latest disc is a vicious and visceral assault that any fan of modern malevolent metal needs to own.

For more information, check out http://www.goatwhore.net.

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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