Embarking upon their thirty-fifth year as death metal essentialists, the masters of macabre themselves, Cannibal Corpse have returned with their sixteenth studio release—Chaos Horrific.  Without wasting any time, the band was back in the studio shortly after their 2021 release Violence Unimagined.  That being said, this album carries similar vibes and the same dedication and expertise fans can expect from Cannibal Corpse.  With a band that has been around for over thirty years, surprises are not in store nor are they needed.  Violent imagery, death metal brutality, and mind blowing precision are ever-present keeping established fans hyped while also attracting a whole new generation of metalheads.

Chaos Horrific marks the second recording with guitarist/producer Erik Rutan as an official part of the roster.  Respecting the established sound of the band, Rutan has been able to keep up the energy while adding some enhancements including having built custom guitars with longer scale necks allowing for lower tuning.  Rutan explains, “I knew I wanted to push the envelope a bit in a different direction than Violence Unimagined; expand the dynamics, explore new territory without departing from what Cannibal Corpse is and always shall be.”  Holding true to the vision, Chaos Horrific brings the comfort of a solid Cannibal Corpse release while adding more technical dynamics and a crisper production allowing for listeners to appreciate each detail.  While bassist Alex Webster says “I don’t think there was any conscious effort to make things more technical, so if it wound up that way it would just be a natural result of us trying to write the heaviest songs we could,” the intensified technical aspects are noted and give each song an extra punch.

The album immediately opens with a bang, not holding back as a quick melody plays before diving headfirst into blast beats, growls, and a ferocity unparalleled.  Listening to the first few bars there is a comfort as the sound is classic Cannibal Corpse before you sink in and your face melts and your head starts swinging.  The violence and carefully calculated chaos ensues in track “Frenzied Feeding” as the tracks feed into each other with ease.  The first single release from Chaos Horrific was “Blood Blind” which showcases more of the band’s exploration into added details, technics, and dramatics.  A solid choice for a first look at the album as it dives into these newer aspects while dripping with mayhem.

Cannibal Corpse has knocked it out of the park yet again with another instant classic.  Obviously, these musicians are experts at their craft as they continuously demonstrate the art of making proficiently excellent music that is also just blood-hungry, turn off your brain and rage death metal.  You would never guess that frontman George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher who growls about mutilation and eating flesh is a sweet family man that loves Target, giving off the same vibe as goths taking off their spiked platform boots revealing fuzzy pink socks.  The list of reasons why you should adore Cannibal Corpse goes on and on and grows with each new release.  May these talented musicians never retire and continue to release some of the heaviest songs out there.

— Angela

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Chaos Horrific is available now on Metal Blade Records.  For more information on Cannibal Corpse, visit their official website.