Carnivore Retaliation is the bands second album from 1987. The band is now most famous for featuring front man Pete Steele who went on to form Type O Negative. This is very angry punk inspired metal probably most suitable for those who found Venom’s early albums a tad too intellectual. Thats not an insult to the band either. Sometimes you need some bonehead metal to just zone out too, and this is it!<\/p>\n\n
The guitar lines are basically punk, but its Petes voice and the production that bring this into Heavy Metal territory. Pete’s vocals are almost psychotically angry and the lyrics are actually quite funny in some songs and in others a cutting commentary of society as it was (and pretty much still is )<\/i> back then. Musically this sounds simple, but the lads can play. There’s some pretty nifty guitar solos and motorhead-ish drum work in this. I love Pete Steele’s vocals in this they are the shouty type vocals featured in early Type O Negative material but far more agreessive. His bass tone is also quite similar to what you hear in the early Type O material. <\/p>\n\n
I’m not sure how seriously the band took themselves in the day. I mean they obviously took it serious enough to put out an album, but lyrically I can’t tell if Pete is taking the piss or seriously trying to get a point of view across. Some rather insightful and some rather “offensive” lyrics on this that remind me of SOD where again it feels like they’re taking the piss but within the bands blunt lyrics they make some valid points.<\/p>\n\n
Anyway I really enjoyed this release its addictive in its simplicity and great fun to listen to. My Fave tracks would have to be “Angry Neurotic Catholics” and “Race War” but over all this is a great listen with some well written songs. There’s also a cool cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression”. It may not be for everyone out there, but this guy is digging it!<\/p>\n\n
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