Welcome to The Saw’s Butcher Shop! It’s Ya Girl, The Saw. We’ve been talking a lot, recently, about New School Death Metal and my love for the sub-genre. Logically, though, there would be no “New School” without the “Old School,” original Death Metal. And the KINGS of Death Metal, Cannibal Corpse, have recently dropped some news on our necks – a new single, from a new, upcoming album, and a North American Tour in support of said album. There is no end to the brutality of OG Death Metal, obviously!

If you do not know who Cannibal Corpse is, then I cannot help you. They are one of the progenitors of Death Metal. They were not the first Death Metal act, but they are among the earliest bands to bash our brains in (1988), expanding the development of extreme Metal – a brutal display of carnage to the world – and they have been one of (if not) THE most successful Death Metal bands in history. Cannibal Corpse have (intentionally) shown no signs of any real evolution over their 35-year career. Brutal, crushing, vicious, riffs, break-neck song structures and time changes, with the lyrical equivalent of the entire unrated horror movie genre in every song. I love it!

So, Cannibal Corpse have dropped the leading single, “Blood Blind,” off their upcoming 16^th studio album, Chaos Horrific, due to be unleashed onto the world on September 22, 2023 via Metal Blade Records. The single has an official music video, which serves as a visual aid for the audio beating of the wicked new track. It’s (of course) a brutal new song, written by Erik Rutan (lead guitar/producer), and the lyrics (of course) are from Mazurkiewicz’s (drums) dark mind. It begins with a crushing funeral march that beats the breath out of you. The riff quickly changes to the trademark swirling, dizzying buzz that Cannibal Corpse is known for, only to transform into a chugging, crushing train grind, that mows you down. And of course, Corpsegrinder is vicious as he verbally spews the lyrical discourse of the chaotic scene. A couple quick solo trade-offs from Barrett and Rutan run this beast back into the chunky chorus riff, again. This new song has a really horrifying sense, and a brutally terrifying sonic sound! I love it!!

While evolving is not what Cannibal Corpse does, they do have a self-sense of progression. Rutan says that he intentionally wanted to push the band’s sound forward on this record, while staying true to that which Cannibal Corpse represents. Webster (bass) thinks Chaos Horrific is, somewhat, a continuation of 2021s, Violence Unimagined. That record was awesome (Check-out my review on that release)! And it had some new, progressive material on it due, I think, to Rutan’s influence. Chaos Horrific is the sixth studio album by Cannibal Corpse that Rutan has produced. And, in my opinion, of the Corpsegrinder era, these 6 are the best of the band. Great production, song writing, and arrangement. 

And, to support the new album, Chaos Horrific, Cannibal Corpse have announced a North American co-headlining tour with the Black Metal OGs, Mayhem. Supporting acts for this monstrous tour are Gorguts and Blood Incantation. What a brutal line-up! This train of death is stopping through Charlotte, NC, and Ya Girl will catch her beatings at that time! Will I see you there? 

Go to the Cannibal Corpse website for all the info on the new record, the new single and video, new merch, and the North American co-headlining tour. Where will you witness Chaos Horrific?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW