Published on Nov 2, 2000
Picture this, if you will. It’s 12:30 in the morning. I’m still
sitting at my desk at my full-time job, plowing through
computerized report after computerized report. I’ve already killed
one two-liter of Pepsi, and I’m still having problems keeping my
eyes open, with about two more hours worth of work lying ahead of
me. I need the musical equivalent of Vivarin, and I need it
now.
Enter Cannibal Corpse and their latest release,
Live Cannibalism. Vocalist George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher and
crew prove that their style of death metal can easily be translated
from the studio to the live arena, even if you still don’t have a
clue as to what Fisher is growling.
I guess it’s obvious to point out, but just in case: If you have
a weak stomach or are easily offended, you may wish to stop reading
this review here. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
In one sense, it’s kind of pointless for a grindcore band to do
a live album, except to prove to people that, yes, they actually
can play these songs live. (And, as the band gleefully points out
in the liner notes, there are no overdubs on this disc.) But the
true energy of such a performance comes from the visuals, both of
the band in action and of the crowd working itself up into a
frenzy. Oh, sure, you can feel some of the testosterone oozing from
the speakers, but it’s just not the same as seeing it for yourself
or, better yet for some people, being there in the crowd. (Metal
Blade plans on releasing a DVD on November 7.)
And, sure, this isn’t the disc you want to leave in the player
when you’re out mowing the lawn and Junior has access to your
stereo. With songs like “Fucked With A Knife,” “I Cum Blood,” “A
Skull Full Of Maggots” and “Meat Hook Sodomy,” the titles alone
make
The Blair Witch Project seem like a Disney film.
And while the musicianship is still quite powerful, I can’t help
but think that some of the absolute gore is lost in Fisher’s grunts
and screams. There are times that I’m thankful I can’t always
decipher such singing, and something makes me think that this is
one of those times.
This might sound like I’m being hard on Fisher, but I don’t mean
to be. In fact, the power of his vocals is what helps catapault
Live Cannibalism into the stratosphere. By the time you get
to the encore of “Hammer Smashed Face,” the listener might actually
find themselves tired just from listening to the incredible output
of energy these guys whip up.
Granted,
Live Cannibalism isn’t the kind of disc to leave sitting out
on the coffee table when the parents come over for fondue. But for
any fan of grindcore, this is a powerful and accurate portrait of
the sheer force a band like Cannibal Corpse can exhibit in
concert.