CANNIBAL CORPSE Butchered at Birth is the second record released in 1991, by this now legendary band. I remember seeing the promo ads in magazines for this (But at the time this was nowhere to be seen in Australian music stores) but alas was unable to purchase any of their music until their next record “Tomb of the Mutilated” was released. Fair enough too as the guys were still very underground at this point, appealling to only a dedicated group of death metal die-hards at the time.
Butchered at Birth is a huge progression musically and sonically from their first album. Their first album I’d say crossed over a lot of thrash metal in with their death metal but this one is just pure death metal. The lads really refined their sound on this one. Also vocalist Chris Barnes had developed some of the deepest (and most indistinguishable) death metal vocals on the scene which considering the nature of the lyrics on this might be a good thing. Cannibal Corpse had decided to also take their brand of gore to a new level of disgustingness that I don’t think any other band had yet to reach. Song titles like “Meathook Sodomy” and “Butchered at Birth” left no doubt as to where the band were at lyrically. I guess the album cover, being one of the most graphic and gruesome covers to ever see the light of day would have left no doubt either.
Musically there were a few other bands around doing stuff like this this but none that presented their art in such a graphic fashion. The album itself kicks off with “Meathook Sodomy” and this is well beyond the basic death metal of their first album. The technical style of death metal the band became famous for is now ever present. This is faster, deeper, with far more accomplished musicianship. More importantly it was more coherent than their first album. Another stand out on this one is “Covered with Sores” with some absolutely sick riffage and slow nasty bits that really make the music pop and make the skin crawl. Another classic on this “Vomit the Soul” which features Glen Benton of Deicide on backing vocals. That classic Cannibal corpse riff style we’ve all grown to love is definitely on display here. This is now some really extreme stuff for day and the guys are really starting to stand out from the crowd.
Over all this is a really cool album. You still wouldn’t have thought at the time the band would go on to become the biggest death metal band of all time. It’s a huge improvement from “Eaten Back to Life” but nothing compared to the output the band would produce in years to come.
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