Carcariass - E-xtinction (2009) - the review
tracklist
1, Chaos and Decay
2, In Cold Blood (instrumental)
3, Domination
4, Exulting Pain (instrumental)
5, Revenger
6, Threshold to Madness (instrumental)
7, Dying Today
8, E-Xtinction (instrumental)
9, Chaos and Decay (instrumental)
10, Domination (instrumental)
11, Revenger (instrumental)
12, Dying Today (instrumental)
line up:
Pascal Lanquetin - lead and rhythm guitars
Raphaël Couturier - bass and vocals
Bertrand Simonin - drums
Jérome Lachenal - rhythm guitar
Another attack of the great white shark !
Sometimes it is better to take longer hiatus after three well-done records and come back after seven years with material, which can be lawfully compared with previous concepts. Yes I write about four french guys who call themselves Carcariass. E-xtinction is their longexpected masterpiece, which has released in june 2009 in Great Dane records. Althought Carcariass existed since 1991, they became more famous in worldwide metal community, when they played gigs with bands like Cradle of Filth or Sadist across the Europe. But first of all because of fact, that they approved in 2006 to download whole records "Sideral Torment" and "Hell on Earth" on their homepage.
This band is recognised by the very worthy sense of creating guitar melodies under signature of lead guitarist Pascal Lanquetin. Drummer Bertrand Simonin plays always traditional patterns which have the right zip with his sense for right timing and spontaneous creation. After many years of silence their songs sounds more mature as on previous "Killing Process", however it is not very good that they deflected little bit from death metal blast beat/tremolo riff structures (E-xtinction is more played in slower tempo). Important is that they did not lose their trademark of sound. Reason why Carcariass did is simple. They probably want to gain new fans e.g. of progressive metal, who do not enjoy growling/harsh vocals. E-Xtinction offters four songs with vocals also in instrumental versions with some extra guitar tracks. Rest four songs are instrumental, where certainly vocals are not absent. This conception got decent technical and progressive nature, not very innovation, but guitar melodies are focused more on the emotions to help to comprehent the meaning of songs. Nowdays is the already unwritten rule that every progressive/technical metal band plays guitar sweeps, one or two hand tapping which make everytime the impression that you listen sofisticated music. Carcariass used these elements too, and it sounds naturally, not repetative.
I consider "Domination" because of bass intro as a free continue of "Watery Grave" from latest album. Nice guitar leads, excellent solos and sweeps as usual. Instrumental track "Exulting Pain" sounds to me as the return back to the thash roots from "Hell on Earth" era with strong palm muted rhythms mixed with frequent transitions with stunning lead guitar work. Really memorable parts there are a guitar solo from 2: 37 and then slow part from 3:54 . Simple inserted scandinavian melodic death metal patterns do not sound as the cliché. "Dying Today" reminds me "Killing Process" times again, especially in riff with volume effect after first chorus. "Threshold to Madness" is in my opinion one of the best tracks from this band, not only on this record because of extraordinary linkage of rhythmic and melodic parts. The beautiful introduction which turns to blast beat/sharp palm mute riff and then part after part in this song is very colorful and intense. Melodic background, chopped rhythms, complex drums is like vortex of dramatic atmospheres. Or it is when the calm surface of the ocean is disturbed by the dangerous predator that has the band in the title(great white shark). Walloping, energetic, full of action and breakdowns - and not extremly fast
That's it! that is the Carcariass.
Highlights: Threshold to Madness, Exulting Pain
rating: 9,5/10
