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Tourniquet > Antiseptic Bloodbath > Reviews
Tourniquet - Antiseptic Bloodbath

This one will be hard to surpass. - 93%

IceSage, April 11th, 2013

Clearly the band has become quite comfortable as a three piece and has honed its formula to near perfection. The strength of the material on ’Antiseptic Bloodbath’ shows that Ted and company are well aware of what the fans want to hear, but are still not afraid to step on a few toes lyrically or use some unexpected elements (cheerleaders?). Each song is distinct, memorable and for the most part, really, really good. The album has everything we’ve come to expect from a Tourniquet release; the classically-structured melodies, the brilliantly complex drumming, the thought-provoking lyrics, all fashioned into some of the most unique thrash metal songs ever recorded. When I say unique I mean that it doesn’t easily compare to anything else out there now or before, not even early Tourniquet though that would be the most obvious comparison.

By my estimation this album is near perfect, but I do have a couple small complaints. My first would be that despite repeated listens I just do NOT enjoy the title track. It’s one of the heavier songs on the album, both stylistically and lyrically, but the chorus reminds me of a cheesy commercial jingle for an all-purpose cleaner or something. Chrome domes Luke and Aaron could both pull off the 'Mr. Clean' look, so maybe that was exactly what they were going for; to juxtapose a flowery, sing-song feel with the brutal subject matter and emulate how many of us choose turn away from it in blissful ignorance. Regardless, it does not make for a very enjoyable listen and I tend to skip right ahead to track three, ’The Girl in the Glass Coffin’, which brings up another small issue. Now I know that Ted has often found lyrical inspiration in the most uncommon places, like giant squids, Sumatran plant life or Old Testament lepers, but Snow White and the Seven Dwarves? Really? It is a great song though, blending violin, cello, trumpet and thrashing guitar, all peppered with solos by none other than Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth), so I can get over the hokey lyrical theme. The extended outro is especially sublime.

Vocally, Luke and Aaron are in top form here, fitting the music like a glove. Luke uses everything from a low, growly delivery to higher pitched wailing, to a creepy rasp, to softly spoken lines, and sometimes all in one song – whatever the song calls for and he nails it every time. Aaron’s vocal contributions seem more impassioned than previous efforts, most notably on ‘Chart of the Elements’ the outro to ‘Duplicitous Endeavor’ and throughout ‘Fed by Ravens, Eaten by Vultures’.

From this point I could give a song by song review, but that would just be unnecessary. Suffice it to say that each track is uniquely enjoyable and should satisfy old and new fans of Tourniquet alike. I will say that my top picks are ’Flowering Cadaver’ (BUNGA BANGKAI!!!) and ’Duplicitous Endeavor’, but then again ’86 Bullets’ and ’Chamunda Temple Stampede’ are both close contenders. Title track aside, I thoroughly enjoy everything about ’Anticeptic Bloodbath’, including the killer cover art. The who's who list of metal guitarists that contribute solos is impressive on its own (Marty Friedman, Karl Sanders (NILE), Pat Travers, Bruce Franklin (TROUBLE) and Santiago Dobles (AGHORA)). This album stands head and shoulders above the majority of recent offerings from their thrash metal contemporaries who are all riding the renewed wave of interest in the style. I would even put it above Testament’s ‘Dark Roots of the Earth’, and that’s saying a lot. If you haven’t heard anything else from the band before, this is a great album with which to start. It’s one of the best metal albums of 2012 for sure.