It baffles me that SFU has never tried to make an album that sounds like those first 4 CC albums. They claimed they were with Maximum Violence but it's totally different and I think Barnes hinted at it with Torment but again nothing like it. That said this recent obsession hardcore kids have with "Caveman Riff Death Metal" Barnes really fucked up by making the whole metal community hate him. SFU would be ultra popular these days if he took better care of his voice and if it wasn't for questionable behavior that is well documented.

I've been going through SFU's back catalogue the last couple days to see if its as bad as people make it out to be, and its really not. I think a lot of the disappointment comes from the fact that this band has had several legends and talented death metal musicians over the years and they have always stuck to playing relatively simple death metal or deathnroll music, never really branching out to something more complex or refined, which does seem like a waste of talent. The 3 albums which I think are objectively their best - Undead Unborn and Crypt of the devil had some great musician's on them but unfortunately they haven't stuck with that style, reverting back to a simpler style, again.

I'm listening to NOTD and musically it isn't a bad album, it's pretty much those stupid squeeling EEEEEEEEE things that he does that ruins some parts. Musically it's not bad all, the riffs and drumming are tight, even some sweet harmonies at points. I don't think it deserves the sub 50% scores that people on here give it, I think a lot of people like to jump on bandwagons and parrot each other's views, not really giving it an objective listen. It's not that bad, and neither is this new song. It's a bit flat but not horrible.

Agree with this- and I’d add the first few ‘Obituary light’ albums as well as among their best.

Yeah man those weren't bad at all to be honest, it helps that they shared band members.

I'd like to see SFU go in another direction and try some longer songs, more technical riffs and have acoustic breaks, try a concept album or something. Break the mould a bit.

I binged Six Feet Under’s discography last year and found it to be more of a mixed bag than straight crap all the way through. Granted half of it is outright crap while Undead and Death Rituals were the pleasant surprises for me.

I really like Maximum Violence, 13, Commandment and Death Rituals which are probably their most death n' roll albums. Sure they're super uncreative but I feel those offer a sound I don't get from most Death Metal bands and they're great background music. Only albums I find genuinely bad are Bringer of Blood and Nightmares of the Decomposed. Bringer has an unlistenable mix where Barnes takes up the whole mix and does overly voicey vocals and Nightamares is self explanatory.

Steve Swanson was teasing new stuff a few months ago. I thought he was their best guitarist.

I'm well aware of satire not being that easy to get online, but c'mon, I'm kinda insulted the automatic assumption was I actually liked that song

It encapsulates this trash band though. A few decent albums here and there notwithstanding, it's been an [irony]impressive[/irony] run of utter shithousery.

Just clicked that the Hair of the Dog cover is going to be grade A funny. Something about Barnes growling "SON OF A BITCH" is playing over and over in my head.

A son of a bitch 3rd generation
Schooled in the art of human strangulation
Only one thing will control my pain
That's to drink the blood of the insane

pretty good riff but the vocals still kill me even at the seed of filth era

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRgmjl5358A
Ascension
Better than NNI. This album could be a big guilty pleasure for me.

Agreed. Sounds much more inspired both musically and vocally.

Musically, that track was pretty good. Vocally, though? Jesus that was awful.

You guys pumped for SFU Day tomorrow??!!

It CAN be just the weed, it is impossible for someone who smokes on a daily basis for so many years (I understand this is the case with Chris Barnes) not to have his brain and throat totally affected by it.

Listened to most of it on youtube... Ill probably listen to it for a month, then eventually forget about it. His vocal patterns dont match the music, yet he didnt write 90% of the lyrics.

It leaked and curiosity got the better of me so here's a few spoilers/observations if anyone just can't wait for whatever reason

Shittiest death metal album of 2024?

What 12 year old made that GAWDAWFUL video??

Thanks for the info, so I'm definitely out because that was the best part of the whole mess.

pretty decent album.

less EEEEEE, more death metal

the cover is shit, but i can forgive

I'm just shocked at how awful those vocals are.

Absolutely irredeemable

The vocals are truly their biggest weakness, it's still shocking that they think this sounds acceptable.

I can get into the music, it's not anything revolutionary, but I can get into some groovy caveman-style primitive death metal, but then Barnes' 10 packs a day voice just shits all over it.

Listened to 3-4 songs.
The riffs and solos are fun, guitar production is dry but okay. The drums are boring at best, and sound utterly impotent. The worst thing about the vocals is the production, they sound horribly clipped and fuzzily distorted. Dumb lyrics.

I was entertained, even compelled to bob my head and air guitar along while on a walk. It’s not significant in anyway, but it’s not nearly as bad as most claim.

Other than being a below average vocalist who writes dumb lyrics, has Chris Barnes ever done or said anything extra-musical that has caused folks to hate on him so much?

Yeah, not enjoying this one as much as Nightmares. Vocals don't bother me as much as everyone else. The absence of Eeees is a plus. But overall comes across as a low effort affair. Too many simplistic silly songs or slow paced repetitive dull ones. Had they dropped those they would have had a strong 8 song album.

I couldn't past the third song, Chris voice is just terrible man. I don't know what happened to him, first four Cannibal Corpse albums are my favorites of the genre, I don't know how the same guy can write such terrible music. Jack Owen (original CC guitar player for almost 15 years!) plays guitar in this album and the riffs are also terrible, is like if SFU downgrades every competent band member that they have.

This checks out. The band has members with highly technical backgrounds and, while technicality doesn't equate to quality, of course, it's amazing how unremarkable they sound in this band.

Vocals sound better to my ears, could maybe pass for a half decent tribute band growler. Music is pretty solid, arguably the best I've heard out of them since Undead, pity the drum production is really thin. If they cleaned up the production a little it would be a solid entry from a band whose good albums I can count on one hand.