Bone Gnawer, Feast of Flesh
When I first heard of this album, I was beyond stoked. How the hell could you not be when you have the combined efforts of death metal growler extraordinaire Kam Lee along with the likes of Ribspreader‘s Rogga Johansson and Ronnie Bjornstrom, as well as, Naglfar‘s Morgan Lie on drums. I’s a poor man’s Bloodbath in a way, and I mean that in the most sincere and glowing way possible.
I love just about everything on this album — the over the top, campy lyrics; Lee’s delivery; the riffing, the thundering drums. It’s just too much to digest, even with that slab of human ribs and innards on the side. Throughout this album you’ll be repeatedly bludgeoned over the head with old school death metal guitar work, maniacal drums and lyrics that teeter on the edge of comedy — and that aspect of them is what makes this album so much damned fun to listen to. You just know Bone Gnawer was having a blast when they recorded Feast of Flesh.
Feast of Flesh
The opening, and title track, opens slowly with sound effects and pig squeals before some seriously old school riffs barrel in through the speakers with reckless abandon. Kam Lee’s vocals are just as guttural as ever, yet are “clean” enough to understand what’s being growled. The first lead of the album makes its appearance at 1:20 on this quick moving song. This is a hell of a way to open up the album. There’s a decent groove to during the chorus as well. The chanted “feast of flesh” is accompanied by thundering drums and thick riffs before the second lead of the song comes in, searing hot. On a side note, this one also features Impetigo‘s Stevo do Caixao on guest vocals.
Sliced and Diced
“Sliced and Diced” starts off with stagger drum work and thick riffing. The vocals are a bit comical, yet completely 100% awesome! This song is so over the top in terms of lyrics and music that it simply cannot be denied. This is one of those tunes you just jack up to full volume at every opportunity.
Cannibal Cookout
A huge guitar squeal erupts at the onset of “Cannibal Cookout” like the scream of dinner as it’s impaled on the spit for barbeque. Again, the lyrics are straight out of a cheesy horror B-movie. When paired with the driving riffs and soaring leads, they make for a stellar track. There’s a thick lead after the two minute mark that fades into some pummeling drum and neck snapping riffing.
Make You Die Slowly
A brief series of crazy animal sounds opens up this next song as thick rhythms come in settling into a beefy groove. Beefy riffs dominate this one with memorable tones as Kam belts out lyrics describing your slow, brutal death. Several tempo shifts offer you plenty of opportunity to get into your own frenzied one man pit. This one has a very thick tone throughout like the amps are bathed is a pool of coagulating blood.
Hammer to the Skull
“Hammer to the Skull” features Machetazo‘s Dopi on guest gurgles. His delivery is a nice complement to Lee’s clean guttural. Overall this is the catchiest song on the entire album. The riffing is relatively bright, yet no less bludgeoning and the rhythms will lead to much head banging. Add in a decent chorus to which you can growl along with at home and you’ve got one hell of a sweet song.
The Saw is Family
A chainsaw, dripping fluids and a few scream introduce some of the more violent rhythms and riffing on the album. Once the band comes in they, literally splatter decayed innards across the stage with pile driving drums and unrelenting guitar work. This is some seriously brutal, old school death metal right here.
Hatchet Face
I’m pretty sure I dated a girl in high school that could be described as “hatchet face.” She sure as shit hit every branch on the way out of the ugly tree, but she gave out, so it was all good. Back to the album, this song is dominated by thrashing riffs and crushing rhythms that compliment Lee’s layered vocals well. There are a few moments on this song where the vocals are crazy distorted naturally, showcasing all that Kam Lee can accomplish with his vocal chords.
Defleshed and Skinned
Featuring Killjoy from Necrophagia, “Defleshed and Skinned” opens up with distorted guitars and a brief sound clip before jumping into a churning cauldron of classic death metal riffing and thick drums. The overall tone of this song is much darker than much of the material on the album, yet stands out as having a truly classic feel.
Anthropophagus Beast
“Anthropophagus Beast” starts off with thick riffing and steady drum work as layered vocals add chaos and depth to the song. Overall, this is a slow moving beast of a song, intent on pulverizing you into a putrid smear on the road. There’s a brief quiet before the thrashing storm of massive riffs and pile driving drums just before the three minute mark — all of which is followed up with a flesh shredding lead.
The Lucky Ones Die First
Feast of Flesh is wrapped up with “The Lucky Ones Die First,” a up-tempo groove filled track complete with some of the more raw vocals on the disc. This song is bludgeoning to a fault — steamrolling drums and thick guitars. Man, this song is punishing and one hell of a way to close out a solid debut album.
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Favorite Tracks:
All of them
Additional Notes:
N/A