General Surgery Corpus In Extremis: Analysing Necrocriticism

Genre:Death Grind / GoregrindFormat:CDTracks:15 Label:Listenable RecordsYear:2009

Like any concerned friend, hearing of the 2008 departure of Grant McWilliams and the addition of the bands’ new singer Erik Sahlström was something that wasn’t so easy to come to terms with. After witnessing the bands life-altering North American debut in Baltimore in 2005, and then having my devastated eardrums swimming in the aural pollution of the bands debut Left Hand Pathology a year later it really seemed that General Surgery had managed to become the most important band in the world with their unusual and uncompromising discography that began with the 1990 Erosive Offals demo. Unusual being that since 1990, Corpus In Extremis: Analysing Necrocriticism is only the bands second full length offering in almost twenty years. Uncompromising because after all this time, the band continues a path of reeking horror and blast beating blood splattered grindcore that is without a doubt as top notch as it gets.

This self-produced effort at Offbeat Studios treads down the same beaten path that this gaggle of Swedes has treaded down in previous outings. It’s big, bold and bloody. From the brief into that fuck-starts “Necronomics” and kicks this thing into high gear, it’s clear that General Surgery does not plan on settling down or headed in the direction of Necrotisism – Descanting the Insalubrious in the same was that fellow Carcass loving one-nutters Exhumed did with their 2003 Anatomy is Destiny album. This is a good thing and while fickle fucks who demand progress and diversity will tear up that this doesn’t sound like a 3rd rate Arch Enemy band, those who enjoy a brutal fusion of death metal and gore grind will continue to revere General Surgery as a band who have always understood their calling.

Goddamn, that drum roll on “Final Excarnation” is awesome. As is the entire drum production. A fat fucking snare blasting, with toms that sound like the axe embedding itself into the trunk of the last tree I chopped down and cymbals that splash entrails soaking with piss that grip my mind like a deer in headlights. The majority of the stench wafting through the speakers is offered up is provided by the chainsaw roars of the dual axe attack churned and spit out by OG member of General Surgery, Dr. Carlsson as well as co-conspirator, Dr. Wallin

The departure of a vocalist is a tricky thing to manage well. Take a look at what happened to fucking Journey when Steve Perry wrecked his hop and could no longer go on as lead singer. Has anyone ever heard any of the revolving cast of people hired to cover for him in the past twelve years? No you have not. I think that newcomer Dr. Sahlström offers a vocal performance that is raspier than his predecessor, Dr. McWilliams. But with the familiar gore soaked back ups, it turns out that Dr Sahlström ends up fitting into the mold very nicely. It’s a transition that went smoother than I thought it might.

It’s pretty simple folks. Corpus in Extremis is a dismembered fifteen track casket of grotesqueries, exhumed for a back alley autopsy. This sick platter flies off a cliff in a black hearse kissing its own anus the whole time and doesn’t let up. It is a fine example of what is right about the state of gory grindcore in 2009. Get this damn album and enjoy life without being an idiot about it.

Order Online:
Listenable Records (CD + T-Shirt)
Amazon (CD)
Amazon (MP3)

This Album Is...

Mandatory! A Must Own Release!

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