History aside -- well, not quite as guitarist Rob Barrett rejoined the fold for this album, effectively playing alongside Pat O'Brien, the man who replaced him when he left after the Vile tour cycle -- Kill really, um, kills in all aspects of sonic abuse. Oh, the brutality! Erik Rutan's knob-twiddling yields a slightly less thick sound than Neil Kernon's masterful hand, but the record is no less crushing. Maniacal guitar work abounds throughout the album and the drumming is all that you'd expect from the mind of Mazurkiewicz. Corpsegrinder's vocals are less varied than on previous efforts and thus take a little away from the efficacy of the overall sound, but more distracting is Webster's bass being more subdued than ever. It's still audible, just not as upfront as with other records. Subtleties abound on this record and several listens are necessary to internalize them all. The pacing is primarily fast and furious though instrumental album closer "Infinite Misery" is decidedly slower and the best song here. There's a reason Cannibal Corpse rule.

written by Tony Belcher

Playing time: 42.10