What happens when you cross a group of environmentally friendly vegetarians with a deathgrind band? To get your answer, check what Cattle Decapitation has been putting out over the last ten or so years. They've delivered extreme metal album after extreme metal, all of which fall into the category of a) being ridiculously brutal and b) containing lyrics that are at times pro-animal, and at times anti-human.
Their very well received 2012 album; Monolith of Inhumanity explored the idea of how the world would turn out if we continued our dangerous ways of life. On the newest record, The Anthropocene Extinction (try saying that one five times fast) the band now warns, or moreso, threatens us of the consequences of mankind's negative influence on the environment. The band even goes as far as naming the album's outro track Pacific Grim (get it? like, the Pacific Rim?)
There's more progression in the band's style than just their lyrical content however, as we also see the band continue their experimentation with melody in their sound. While their last album gave us a taste of what the band could do with melodic elements, this album expands even more, and gives us a wicked amount of catchy, guttural, and vicious hooks, something you wouldn't really expect all that much of on an album that combines two of the heaviest genres out there in death metal and grindcore.
The MVP of this album, so to speak, belongs in part to frontman Travis Ryan, who rips through track after track with some of the nastiest and most brutal guttural vocals you'll find. However, just as Ryan carries his weight vocally, we also see drummer Dave McGraw show why he is one of the best in the genre as he not only plays with extreme velocity, but also with an impressive amount of precision and technique. The downside of these two shining through, is the lack of attention that guitarist Josh Elmore and bassist Derek Engemann receive.
For those looking for a head-spinning cut that is sure to get your blood pulsing and anger rising, look no further than the album's second track The Prophets of Lost, a song that Ryan explained to loudwire.com in an interview that you can find here:
"This one is a ripper! Probably my favorite song that we've done, ever. I just love it."The song toys with elements that Cattle Decap have yet to truly explore in their sound, as it goes in depth with traditional grind influence. Above and beyond that, it features a guest appearance from Phil Anselmo (ex-Pantera, current Down vocalist.)
While it certainly is one of the best takes on the album, it does not mean that the rest of the LP is lacking by any means. As you move through the track listing you'll find songs that consistently challenge the one that came before in terms of viciousness, and also in terms of technical playing ability. The 11th track, Ave Exitium serves as an intro for the last song Pacific Grim. It's a track that differs a ton from everything else you'll find on the album, as rather than being a loud, fast-paced song with snarling and screeching vocals from Travis Ryan, it instead features very sparse drumming and guitar playing, as Ryan provides some equally slow vocals that he refers to as "emo and s--t." It gives way of course to the closer, as I mentioned, which is a sweet closer to say the least. A track that discusses the Pacific garbage patch, and wraps the album up about as well as the band possibly could have.
On The Anthropocene Extinction, Cattle Decapitation continue to prove just how versatile they can be, and also how important they are to the extreme metal scene. Over the last few years, they have become leaders in their domain as a deathgrind outfit, and have been able to showcase their genres with those who are not that familiar with the genre. Albums like this, delivered on a consistent basis, will solidify the band as one of the best current metal acts out there. Whether they matched their 2012 offering or not isn't important, because what they were able to do is deliver an album that can match it terms of brutality, while still being different in terms of song writing and instrumentation.
Rating: A-
Favorite Tracks: The Prophets Of Loss, Plagueborne, Circo Inhumanitas, Pacific Grim
Least Favorite Tracks: None
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