Artist: Carnivore
Label: Roadrunner Records
Release Date: 1987
Rating: 5 Skulls
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Title: Retaliation Artist: Carnivore Label: Roadrunner Records Release Date: 1987 Rating: 5 Skulls |
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Kefka X's Review:
Let's name some of the bands most commonly affiliated with 80's thrash. Metallica, Megadeth, Exodus, D.R.I, Anthrax, Testament . . . bands so legendary they've practically become household names. When hearing these names there's one band I can't help but think of, one that could have become the next big name on the scene if they stuck around just a little bit longer.In 1987, Carnivore released Retaliation, the follow-up to their self-titled cult classic. What made Retaliation such a classic and important release was not its influence in metal or its CD sales, but rather its showcase of the potential of a band edging its way into becoming what could have been the Slayer killer for its period. Carnivore was faster than all of its peers. Carnivore presented the fastest drummer and double bass in the league. Carnivore had the heaviest riffs. Carnivore had the angriest vocals and lyrics (the opening scream on "Angry Neurotic Catholics" still makes the hairs on my back stand up to this very day). Most importantly, Carnivore had the presentation. Carnivore took Slayer's premise and Napalm Death's extreme-music concept and fused the two together to create the ultimate apocalyptic nightmare. Their live shows were layered in gore and blood, with each band member's towering height looming over the show-goers, clad in garments strikingly similar to a less-theatrical version of Gwar's wardrobe. Carnivore was the "if you think that's extreme, get a load of this!" band. They just weren't well-known enough to be considered as legendary as the rest of the top-tier.
But this isn't to say that Carnivore was just a band looking to outstrip the competition by being the most extreme of the genre. In many ways, Retaliation was an evolution into a more accessible, yet bold and meaningful direction. Straying from their origins of cyber-technology and post-Armageddon war settings, their sophomore effort dove into themes of self-loathing, philosophy and political issues. Napalm Death had covered this terrain on the Scum album, but Peter Steele wrote lyrics that were far more clever and entertaining to the ear. The simple fact that his vocals were far more discernable than Lee Dorrian's also underlines its superiority. And besides, who can say no to song titles like "Jesus Hitler?"
In regards to the music itself, not only is the production more satisfying on Retaliation than on Carnivore, but the guitars and song structures are more evolved and memorable. Part of the fun of Retaliation is picking up on all the classic rock references the band makes. Those of you who bought the re-mastered editions of the albums Roadrunner re-released in 2001 are treated with a Jimi Hendrix cover of "Manic Depression," one of the songs not found on the Carnivore/Retaliation split CD that went out of print in 1997. Can you guess what song the final riff of the cover is from? (Hint: It ain't Hendrix.) And this is only a fraction of the genius that covers Carnivore's lifespan. Forget that this was Petrus T. Steele's first major band; Carnivore was not only the living embodiment of extreme music for its time, they were also an awesome thrash band who wrote some of the coolest, most memorable songs that stuck in your head like flaming Styrofoam. Retaliation, sadly enough, was the last album to come from the trio from Brooklyn before they went their separate ways, thus ending the band's career before they could evolve into what could have been the premier thrash band leading into the 90's.
I guess I shouldn't be too upset about it, though. Peter went on to start another legacy of his own shortly afterwards, one that truly gained the respect and attention of critics worldwide.
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