Artist: Carnal Forge
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 4/22/03
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Title: The More You Suffer Artist: Carnal Forge Label: Century Media Release Date: 4/22/03 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
Just in case you haven't been paying attention, Carnal Forge have put out a nice little string of quality albums. And I'm happy to say that The More You Suffer keeps the streak intact. The band continues their uncanny ability to not change from their formula all too much, but continue to sound fresh. Basically, these guys are just too damn talented to screw up.
"These guys are just too damn talented to screw up." They continue to branch out in much the same way as they did with their last two records, mixing speed, thrash and groove in a brutal attack. While this band continues to wear their influences on their sleeves, they keep the listener interested with their knack for riff and their ability to construct anthemic songs that appeal to a wide range of metalheads.
It would be misleading to say that they've tinkered with their sound all that much, although this album strikes me as a bit heavier than their last few. The guitars seem even more chunky and the vocals more acidic. The production remains thick and hefty, while avoiding sounding overly slick. It is obvious, despite how little time they take off between albums, that they not only have a great deal of worthwhile material, but that they also put a lot of thought into their song structure. It is easy to hear the care put into all of the different aspects of this album, and I am hoping that this band continues to receive more and more of the recognition that they deserve.
"It is easy to hear the care put into all of the different aspects of this album, and I am hoping that this band continues to receive more and more of the recognition that they deserve." It is easy to miss out on a band like Carnal Forge. What with the plethora of acts coming out of Sweden, as well as the resurgence of the thrash sound in Scandinavia, it is possible for them to fall between the cracks. That would be a tragedy, however, because not only is this band doing great things now, but they've been doing them for awhile. And they've been doing them pretty much better than everyone else. While they may be playing a trendy type of music right now, they were playing before it became trendy and they'll still be playing it when it's no longer trendy. One word review: Solid.
Death's Review:
Like this so-called New Wave of Swedish Thrash? If your answer to that question is generally "yes," then you will surely like The More You Suffer, the new album from Carnal Forge. This is old school thrash, infused with speed, aggression, and a post-At the Gates aesthetic. Think The Haunted or Corporation 187. Still, The More You Suffer is perhaps not as technical as some of those other bands (although there are dual guitar, harmonized melodic runs scattered amidst the pummeling here and there). The attack is very concentrated and very direct. The drums and the guitars are extraordinarily tight. There is an almost hardcore component to the vocals and the overall delivery at times, but never so much as to ever actually cross the line - this is Slayer influenced metal, with a touch of Shadows Fall or Lamb of God in the vocals, and a pinch of metalcore to the delivery.
"This is old school thrash, infused with speed, aggression, and a post-At the Gates aesthetic."
My favorite track, "Destroy Life," sounds a bit different, upping the technicality a bit and employing Low era Chuck Billy vocals for emphasis here and there to mix things up. Fast, faster and fastest is the speed, although there are the occasional fist-pumping "choppy" riffs interspersed to break things up. Thankfully, there is not a hint of nu-metal or "sell out" to be found anywhere on this album, and as the gap between Carnal Forge and The Haunted on the one end and In Flames and Soilwork on the other widens to the point that they can't even be said to be doing anything even remotely similar, the diversity of modern Swedish death/thrash has become ever more apparent. The direct nature of the new Carnal Forge material should translate well in the live setting - something all of you planning on attending the Metal Gods 2003 Tour will soon lean to appreciate, I'm sure.
"Thankfully, there is not a hint of nu-metal or "sell out" to be found anywhere on this album."
Hel's Review:
I admit it, I'm a Carnal Forge fan. They've impressed me with every album. It's just that simple. Good production, superior musicianship, and unstoppable riffs are standard with each release. The songwriting continues to mature with every album. The vocals are beginning to sound more and more like Araya. There's no downside.
"I admit it, I'm a Carnal Forge fan. They've impressed me with every album."
"Should you buy it? I can't believe that's even still a question." So, if a band that I have very consistently liked in the past deliver an album which is another clear stride in the direction of legendary greatness, what choice do I have? The only thing to do, the only thing I can possibly do, is deliver another five skull verdict.
Should you buy it? I can't believe that's even still a question. Unless you've already decided you hate Carnal Forge, I can't think of a single reason why you shouldn't be dying to hear this record. And even then, I suggest haters should give this new record a chance to change their minds.
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