I need to like Six Toes Beneath. I actually do. On paper they need to be improbable, what with their present lineup being rounded out by two founding members of Cannibal Corpse, in addition to one of many quickest drummers I’ve ever seen and a ridiculously dexterous 7-string bassist. You’d assume they’d be out right here blowing individuals’s minds left and proper, however as an alternative they appear content material with serving up a bunch of mid-paced, lackluster demise ‘n’ roll that will have had a leg to face on 30 years in the past, however feels effectively previous performed out at this level.
Like many others, I used to be pleasantly shocked to listen to that they’d picked up the tempo with their first single “Know-Nothing Ingrate”. It wasn’t excellent, but it surely had a way of renewed vitality in contrast to something they’ve put out in a very long time, and it was actually sufficient to generate a buzz. My hopes had been extraordinarily measured, however I’d be mendacity if I mentioned my curiosity hadn’t been piqued. I discovered myself questioning if maybe Chris Barnes’ newfound sobriety (respect) had created a shift of their dynamic, and in consequence the next emphasis would now be positioned on extra artistic songwriting that really made use of the insanely gifted musicians of their roster.
So, did they pull it off? After spending a while with their latest full-length Killing for Revenge, I can safely say that the reply is… ehh, sure and no.
It’s true that a number of of the songs are a lot quicker than we’re used to listening to from Six Toes Beneath, and actually are among the many quickest materials they’ve ever launched, significantly the third monitor “Ascension”. That one is definitely very tastefully written and genuinely heavy, other than the truth that Barnes’ voice has misplaced a lot of its former energy. The primary riff for “When the Moon Goes Down in Blood” has an attention-grabbing really feel to it as effectively, kinda creepy and complimented by rapid-fire triplet bursts from drummer Marco Pitruzella. If the remainder of the songs on this album had been pretty much as good as these two then I’d be singing a wholly totally different tune, however sadly they find yourself being the exception to the rule.
They could have shifted issues up a gear on among the songs, however that metric alone doesn’t make up for the truth that a variety of the music remains to be very repetitive when you recover from the preliminary shot of adrenaline. Additionally, that improve in tempo doesn’t carry over to all the music, and when it doesn’t, issues come crashing down onerous. The fifth monitor “Hostility Towards Mankind” is virtually unlistenable with its simplistic, plodding, molasses-slow try at a “groove” that seems like they ripped off the principle riff from “Bury Me in Smoke” however screwed it up. The aptly named “Neanderthal” is a barely higher try at slower bluesy riffs extra consistent with SFU’s earlier materials, however even that one falls quick. At one level I really laid my head down on my desk and mentioned out loud, “Why the fuck did you rent the fellows from Mind Drill to play this?!”
I’ve by no means been capable of wrap my head round why neither Marco Pitruzella and Jeff Hughell aren’t being utilized to their full potential. If you happen to actually wanna blow individuals’s minds and catapult Six Toes Beneath into an entire new period, then don’t be scared to throw some gravity blasts and arpeggios and a bit slap bass into that motherfucker. At this level, why not? I’m not saying they should be the subsequent Archspire with Barnes on vocals — though that may be a hell of a sight to see — however don’t give them riffs that they might play of their sleep both. Allow them to boys cook dinner. There are glimpses of their true capabilities within the bursts of actually quick blasts on the finish of “When the Moon Goes Down in Blood” and a few very tasty tapping from Hughell which provides critical environment to the start of “Spoils of Struggle”, however aside from that it seems like they might have gotten any variety of different employed weapons to do the identical factor and nonetheless achieved the identical consequence.
Folks will undoubtedly be saying one thing to the impact of “Oh man, that is means higher than Nightmares” as soon as the album is out, however that could be a depressingly low bar to clear. Then once more, one is also forgiven for holding out hope that this noticeable enchancment is actually an early indicator of a a lot larger change within the wind. There’s part of me that really hopes this album does very well and conjures up them to put in writing extra music prefer it, however then there’s the opposite half that just about choked on my drink after I heard the cowbell throughout their cowl of Nazareth’s “Hair of the Canine” on the finish, so I’m not precisely ready with bated breath.
Six Toes Beneath’s Killing for Revenge drops this Friday, Might 10 through Metallic Blade Data. Pre-order your copy right here
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