Metal Underground.com

A real workhorse of the major deathcore scene, Carnifex has been reliably pumping out a new album every year or two across three different labels, with the longest stretch occuring between 2011's “Until I Feel Nothing” and 2014's “Die Without Hope.” That latter album was an unexpected gem, even for metal fans who normally don't dig deathcore. While it never hit my regular album rotation or became a personal favorite, it was an overall solid release that had me looking forward to whatever was coming next.

What was coming next would end up being “Slow Death,” which is about the most inaccurate album title ever. This ain't no funeral doom, that's for sure. From opener “Dark Heart Ceremony” to closing “Servants To The Horde,” Carnifex's sixth full-length album is both incredibly crushing and incredibly varied, but usually ending up on the faster side.

A horror movie score dark piano intro kicks off the album, which shifts into rapid fire blast beating and some of the heaviest deathcore you'll hear anywhere. The piano/keyboard flourishes aren't quite enough to label this as a “symphonic” album, but it is close, and they are executed more smoothly than you might expect for this style of music, like with the sudden symphonic change-up two thirds of the way through title track.

The opening to “Countess Of A Crescent Moon” just might have you thinking, “what the hell, is this Cradle Of Filth?” and then it just absolutely explodes into a much darker heaviness more along the lines of Fleshgod Apocalypse or Septicflesh. On a similar note, the end of “Necrotoxic” shifts into melancholic and clear guitar tones to herald the interlude “Life Fades Into A Funeral,” offering up some brief down time from all the insane brutality.

“Slow Death” is significantly more eclectic than expected, but still retains a skull-shattering level of heaviness. While the production isn't crystal clear, overall these 10 tracks admirably do what they set out to: aurally destroy their listeners while throwing in some serious curve balls you won't see coming. Nice job Carnifex!