First things first, yes that is a mock reference to the Now compilations that were huge a few years ago and now barely register a blip on the market because of downloading. Yes, it's an old joke and not terribly funny. Moving on.
Well as I said in my post on the new Pathology album, I've been in a bit of a slam mood. For those not familiar with the genre, slam death metal takes the early sound of Suffocation and other similar groups and focuses on the slower groove parts. It's offensive as hell, but that's part of its charm(?). Just look at some of these song titles. It's not music to be taken seriously, it's just mindless fun. As long as you're not easily offended anyway.
This is a compilation thrown together by Sergeant D. of Metal Inquisition and put up for download on Invisible Oranges. It's a pretty good introduction into the twisted world of slam metal. I'm pretty late to this party as this was posted nine months ago originally and I was vaguely aware of it then, but only downloaded it this week. I'm not going to discuss each song in depth, as most of this sounds pretty similar and it would be pointless saying the same thing over and over again, but here we go anyway.
1. Devourment: Babykiller: This is the only band on this compilation that I currently have an album from (I have three). Devourment are probably the first real slam band, and this song is a perfect example of the genre.
2. Gorevent: Extinction: Japan has become a leading exporter of slam and many of the bands share members. Gorevent, Rest in Gore, Infernal Revulsion, and Glossectomy are all Japanese bands.
3. Cephalotripsy: Sanguinary Misogynistic Execration: This is what most modern slam bands sound like. The vocals are extremely guttural.
4. Repudilation: Fall of Oppression: An older band that helped define the genre more from Devourment's take on it.
5. Rest in Gore: Gutrectomy: Absolutely filthy vocals.
6. I Declare Goddess: I Declare Goddess: This is a collaboration between the singers of deathcore band I Declare War and slam band Disfiguring the Goddess. It does not feature a lot of the weirdness notable in Goddess's work, although there are some strange moments.
7. Infernal Revulsion: Rot in Peace: This is a bit more melodic than most other slam. It's more closely related to Suffocation. This is probably my favorite track on this.
8. Putrid Pile: Dead: This one is incredibly fast and sounds great.
9. Guttural Secrete: Reek of Pubescent Despoilment: Different guitar tone. This one also sounds like brutal death with some nice riffing along with the slams.
10. Disconformity: Endocranial Cast: This one's a bit slower with some very sick vocals.
11. Condemned: Habitual Depravity: Absolutely inhuman vocals on this track. I'm not sure those are even words.
12. Human Rejection: Infernal Hostility: These vocals sound like a bullfrog is grumbling into the mic. The whole song is basically one long slam.
13. Glossectomy: Unknown: This one flies by in the blink of an eye. It's also essentially a two minute slam.
14. Pyrexia: Sermon of Mockery: Pyrexia emerged around the same time as Suffocation and really are not that dissimilar. Fans of Suffocation should also enjoy Pyrexia, although their breakdowns are much more severe.
15. The Dark Prison Massacre: My Cock is the Truth: Charming.
Yes the music is offensive as hell. However, it's kind of fun to listen to sometimes.
This is exactly what I was talking about when I said death metal has a sense of humor, only it seems these guys take it a step beyond. Another good example is, you can look at just about any title by Bloodbath--"Ominous Bloodvomit", anyone? In contrast, when black metal stuff sounds funny, it's unintentional. Limbonic Art is a perfect example--they named a whole album "The Ultimate Death Worship". Think about that for a while. What the hell does that mean? Plus, it has a track called "Funeral of Death". Well, I didn't know there was another kind.
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