Welcome to The Saw’s Butcher Shop! I am your host – The Saw – but you already knew that. Do you also know that Cannibal Corpse, the kings of old school Death Metal, dropped their 16^th full-length studio album, Chaos Horrific (Metal Blade) on September 22, 2023? Of course, its brutal. And you know it contains some of the chunkiest riffs in all of Metal. Cannibal Corpse have consistently bashed our brains in for 35 years, and according to this record, they have no signs of relenting anytime soon.

I remember as a little Baby Saw, my dad (the OG) would play Cannibal Corpse’s Kill album. That was the age that I came to love Cannibal Corpse. Soon, I would learn of an earlier era Cannibal Corpse, one where Chris Barnes was the vocalist. I love both versions of Cannibal Corpse! But ‘Corpsegrinder’ is awesome, and the sonic beating of the newer era of the band is hard to beat. And, with the incorporation of Eric Rutan (ex-Ripping Corpse, ex-Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal) on lead guitar, Cannibal Corpse is a crushing DM machine! 2021s Violence Unimagined began the newest era of Cannibal Corpse – with Rutan, not just writing a few of the tracks, but his trademark guitar tone and style. Chaos Horrific is a part 2 (of sorts), and the newest era of the kings of Death Metal continues to steam roll the bodies.

Chaos Horrific is precisely what you’d expect from Cannibal Corpse. There is no (real) evolution in the sound, style, or delivery of the band. 10 songs in 39 minutes ensures a vicious and brutal assault of the senses at a break-neck pace. Classic chunky riffs, combined with ultra-thick train grind (Rutan’s tone), the brilliant one-two combination of founders, Webster (bass) and Mazurkiewicz (drums), the genius execution of long-time guitarist, Rob Barrett, and (of course) the unmistakable vocal abuse of Corpsegrinder. Again, beginning with 2021s release, the inclusion of Rutan into these masters of horror brings an even thicker and weightier sonic assault. 

If you heard the singles – “Blood Blind” and “Summoned for Sacrifice” – then you already know that this new album is wicked! As usual, the composition of Chaos Horrific, specifically the order of the tracks, is stacked for maximum brutality. The opening track, “Overlords of Violence,” smashes you in the face right out of the gates! “Frenzied Feeding” continues the horror, followed by the two singles, and then the beatings begin to subtly change. “Vengeful Invasion” and the title track are just pure bruising in their execution. The last four tracks are different from the first six in style and feel – more atmospheric; dizzying guitar fillers, double bass trauma, and crushing riffs. “Fracture and Refracture” and “Pitchfork Impalement” roll-off like a body thrown down a steep hill. Massive tempo and time changes, chugging riffs and blast-beats with wicked double-bass; and the lead guitar take-offs are insane. But it is the final two – “Pestilence Rictus” and “Drain You Empty” that really set this album off. I mean, who doesn’t love the classic chainsaw attack of Cannibal Corpse? But on 2014s, A Skeletal Domain, the band began adding a more atmospheric sense to a song here-and-there. Very dark, buzzing, full riffs and just an ominously bleak feeling to end the new album. 

Of course, Ya Girl loves Chaos Horrific and Cannibal Corpse! Especially the newest era of the band. I see Cannibal Corpse whenever they come to NC – in fact, on Saturday, September 23, I saw them in Charlotte with the legendary Mayhem! Their live show matches the intensity of the albums – just devastating brutality! Respect the Neck!!

Rating – 9/10!! Really? Come on, its Cannibal Corpse!!

Favorite Songs: Summoned for Sacrifice (brilliant lyrics), Pitchfork Impalement, Drain You Empty

Stay Metal,

THE SAW