Review Summary: "You wanna try that again?"
Nightmares of the Decomposed” is an album that is very much a product of its time, and like the year it was released in, 2020, is a ***ing dumpster fire. Out of an entire 12 track, 43 minute album, 34 seconds was the only part of the entire album I enjoyed without a shred of irony.
Opening track “Amputator” starts off promising, with a thrashy riff that sounds like death metal, and like every track here, is ruined when Chris Barnes opens his hole to *attempt* to scream. The high pitched goat raping screams are still here, and have gotten even worse, and now his mid and low growls sound strained, forced and incredibly weak. Like he recorded every track in 1 session with no breaks for water while smoking pack after pack of Marlboros, and copious amounts of weed. No one bothered to say “You wanna try that again?”, and that seems to be a common theme across the entirety of the record. (and a big chunk of SFU's discography as a whole) I bet as you’re reading this section you’re wondering “What’s the 34 seconds of the album you actually enjoyed”. I’ll tell you, the main riff to the track “Zodiac” (gee, wonder what it’s about?), a mid paced groovy marching stomp riff, and that’s it. Out of the whole album, that one riff is the only thing I enjoy.
After “Zodiac” we have more watered down, bored, uninspired tripe. Which honestly surprises me given the actual musicians performing here; Jack Owen (formerly of Cannibal Corpse and Deicide) wrote all of the music, and despite some mildly interesting solos and the riff previously mentioned, sounds bored, same with Ray Suhy (Cannabis Corpse, there’s an irony in a parody of the band you achieved fame in making better music than the band you’re in now) whilst the rhythm section you wouldn’t think of; Jeff Hughell (Ex- Brain Drill, an incredibly technical, near proggy death metal band) on bass is the bare minimum of bass playing; guitar but lower, while Marco Pitruzella (Currently in Rings of Saturn, ex-Brain Drill, ex- The Faceless) is on drums, which again are bare minimum. Such incredibly talented instrumentalists, and they’re playing childrens colouring book death metal. Must be getting a big fat check for it.
How the mighty have fallen, Chris Barnes made a name for himself with Cannibal Corpses first 4 albums, and then with the first 3 Six Feet Under albums (realistically 2 at a push) and now he is reduced to a laughing stock in the death metal community. How anyone let this album be released as a serious musical piece is beyond me. Hopefully at some point someone has the heart to break it to Chris Barnes that maybe it’s time to retire. Pull an Arch Enemy, retire, and manage the band while someone actually competent performs vocals. Do podcasts, write a book, both of those I would actually, and genuinely be excited for! Anything but another Six Feet Under album, and please no more cover albums, for the love of all things.
