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Six Feet Under
Graveyard Classics III
(Metal Blade Records)
Having been born and raised in a geographically and economically isolated region, I frequently found myself seeking entertainment from less than likely sources, often with disastrous results (i.e. the now-defunct BMG Music Service and the sonic debacle that is/was 1994’s Mötley Crüe). Thus, you can imagine my initial apprehension when a less than open-minded friend presented me with a well-worn cassette copy of the understandably controversial sophomore Cannibal Corpse effort Butchered At Birth. I found myself wondering ‘Is this really happening?’ and ‘Is this some sort of trick?’ as the opening strains of “Under The Rotted Flesh” roared through my woefully primitive Sound Design stereo. The rest, as they say, is now ancient history as I have been quite happily banging my head to all things Cannibal Corpse and Cannibal Corpse-related ever since.
On the stellar Graveyard Classics III (2010), an expertly assembled ten song collection of ingeniously executed ‘…cover material…’, each track, beginning with a scalding rendition of the Mercyful Fate prototype “A Dangerous Meeting” and a quasi-thunderous take on the Metallica juggernaut “The Frayed Ends Of Sanity”, immediately commands the rapt and undivided attention of even the most jaded and unimaginative of listeners, myself most definitely included. Wisely improving upon both 2000’s Graveyard Classics and 2004’s Graveyard Classics II (a curious re-recording of the multi-Platinum 1980 AC/DC opus Back In Black), the group wastes little--if any--time driving home key focal point without, believe it or not, employing the shameless, payola and chart position-driven tactics so blatantly relied upon by their would-be ‘contemporaries’.
Continuing with a refreshingly ‘…accurate…’ rendition of the Bachman-Turner Overdrive modus operandi “Not Fragile”, and a blistering take of the Van Halen gem “On Fire”, the steadfast--to say the very least--combination of ex-Cannibal Corpse/Torture Killer vocalist Chris Barnes, ex-Massacre guitarist Steve Swanson, bassist Terry Butler (Death, Denial Fiend) and drummer Greg Gall steamrolls ahead with what can only be described as a truly sickening ease. Precariously blending a staggering wealth of well-intended kitsch with the razor-sharp musical prowess that has effectively personified the improbably long-running group throughout the duration of their fifteen (!) year career, the result sonic carnage, while quite obviously far from groundbreaking and certainly not revolutionary, is seemingly guaranteed to pander to the group’s notoriously rabid constituents.
An absolute must-have primarily for die-hard Barnes completists and disillusioned Cannibal Corpse fans, other standouts, including a maddeningly infectious rendition of the battle-scarred Ramones staple “Psychotherapy” and an equally impressive take on the oft-overlooked Prong classic “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck”, offer a wealth of further sonic evidence is support of the group’s dominance of the Death Metal genre. But is really that damn good? Absolutely! Easily one the group’s most thoroughly enjoyable ‘compilation’ efforts to date (second only to 2005’s brilliant, rarity-laden A Decade In The Grave box set), what ultimately separates the rumbling behemoth that is so often the mighty Graveyard Classics III from it’s deftly-executed predecessor(s) is the frequently ferocious foursome’s ceaseless focuses on imagination and execution.
So what, exactly, are you waiting for? Tomb Of The Mutilated or True Carnage Vol. II? Sorry folks; it ain’t freakin’ happening. Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, this is quite possibly as good as it gets. Even if you somehow find yourself unable (or, at the very least, particularly apprehensive) to wholeheartedly embrace the majority--if not all--of the decidedly over-the-top wares contained herein, one must, at the very least, sincerely admire the group’s already much-celebrated penchant for continuously honing their proverbial ‘…chops…’. Needless to say, if you’ve once again found yourself in search of an arguably less than likely detour from the painfully mindless, Hip Hop and Pop-fueled din and clatter that is so often force fed en mass, then this, my friends, might just be the high octane cure for whatever it is that ails you. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Select Chris Barnes Discography
Graveyard Classics III (2010) **
Death Rituals (2008) **
Commandment (2007) **
Swarm! (2006) ***
A Decade In The Grave (Box Set) (2005) **
13 (2005) **
Live With Full Force (DVD) (2004) **
Graveyard Classics II (2004) **
Bringer Of Blood (2003) **
Doubled Dead (CD/DVD) (2002) **
True Carnage (2001) **
Maximum Video (DVD) (2001) **
Graveyard Classics (2000) **
Maximum Violence (1999) **
Warpath (1997) **
Alive And Dead (EP) (1996) **
Haunted (1995) **
The Bleeding (1994) *
Hammer Smashed Face (EP) (1993) *
Tomb Of The Mutilated (1992) *
Butchered At Birth (1991) *
Eaten Back To Life (1990) *
* as a member of Cannibal Corpse
** as a member of Six Feet Under
*** as a member of Torture Killer