UMUR "Torture" is the 12th full-length studio album by US death metal act Cannibal Corpse. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in March 2012. "Torture" was produced by Erik Rutan (Ripping Corpse, Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal, Alas) and as always he has created a professional and powerful sounding production. Not all his productions suit the music equally well, but they are arguably the work of a true professional.

The music on "Torture" is unmistakably the sound of Cannibal Corpse. No more! no less! Deep growling yet slightly intelligble vocals, good rhythmic variation, sharp brutal riffing and horror/gore lyrics and imagery. All in all technically well played US death metal. You can argue that not much new is going on compared to the last couple of releases, and you would probably be right, but it´s also hard to argue that Cannibal Corpse don´t do what they do with more conviction and quality than most others playing this style. Their high ranking among the elite US death metal acts is not a coincidence. These guys are hard working, well playing and write powerful death metal music. "Torture" is just another great release in a long line of high quality death metal releases by the band.

...when that is said there are times during the album´s playing time when my attention wanders. The brutality of the music becomes monotone and the group neglect to put in the hooks that are so vital in death metal this brutal. It´s not a big issue as Cannibal Corpse are generally successful in incorporating memorable moments in their otherwise brutal and relentlessly aggressive music, but the day when a Cannibal Corpse album can maintain my attention all the way through it´s playing time hasn´t arrived yet (alright I might be exaggerating a bit, but their through and through entertaining releases are few).

So "Torture" is the kind of album that´ll probably please fans of the band greatly, but on the other hand it´s probably not an album that´ll win them any new fan segments. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

arcane-beautiful Since Evisceration Plague, I've been waiting for a new Cannibal Corpse album for a whilst now. These guys havent disapointed me in the past 10 years, and I wasn't really expecting them to.

Now to try and say that these guys do the same thing over and over again is a bit of an overstatement. These guys are the biggest death metal band in the world, and if they didn't deliver there standard sound, then people would be upset. But these guys are sneakily able to add a little something else to the music now and then.

Musically, the album is a little different than their last 3 albums. It's a lot heavier in my opinion and a lot of modern influences and experimentation is heard in this album, with flirts of groove metal, tech death and if you open your ears, tiny seeds of djent can be heard throughout. Corpsegrinder's vocals are also better than I've ever heard them. And the guitar sound is one of the most bone crunching guitar sounds I've heard in ages (I'm guessing that's thanks to Eric Rutans producing).

I think the material at times is their best I've heard in years. I mean it, there are some real anthems on this album that I will be hearing in my head for a whilst. My brother told me before listening to it that he thought this was their catchiest album to date, and in a way I kind of agree with him. But If I'm honest...this is their weakiest album in a long string of albums.

Now I'm not saying it's a bad album, in fact it's a pretty great album, but comparing this album to Kill, Evisceration Plague, or even The Wretched Spawn, which I think is one of the best death metal albums ever made...is a bit of a challenge. The album is great, but there are a lot of weaker moments on the album, which drag it down a little.

But hey...it's death metal...you get what you expect...which is some of the heaviest stuff you will ever hear in your life

1. Demented Aggression – These guys are always able to get your attention by starting off the album with an incredibly kick as song. Some earth shattering riffs. 10/10

2. Sarcophagic Frenzy – One of the most kick ass songs on the album. Some really killer riffs on this song. Amazing chorus in the song too. 10/10

3. Scourge Of Iron - A slower song, but mammothly heavy. I love the changes in tempo throughout. One of the most interesting and best songs on the album. 10/10

4. Encased In Concrete – Fast and brutal. I really love the lyrics on this song, especially cause the thought of being buried alive in concrete...is a bit of a fear of mine. The music video for this song is pretty killer too, and I advise people to check it out.8/10

5. As Deep As The Knife Will Go – One of the best chorus' on the album. I literally thought this was a melodic death metal song for these guys, but it's heavy and brutal enough to confuse you. This is the band's new anthem for this decade. 10/10

6. Intestinal Crank – Great lyrics. Love how the song changes in the middle and becomes something completely different. 9/10

7. Followed Home Then Killed – Great tempo changes throughout. Pretty heavy moments and a killer chorus. 8/10

8. The Strangulation Chair – These guys most technical song in my opinion. If it weren't for the technical musicianship, this song would be pretty standard. There's also a killer bass solo on this song. 8/10

9. Caged...Contorted – One of the most grooviest songs on the album, so the riffs are the main focus. Rather than that, it's pretty standard. 7/10

10. Crucifier Aveneged – I love the storytelling element of this song. Other than that, it's pretty standard. 7/10

11. Rabid – This song would be better if it was quicker and shorter. It's a bit drawn out to be honest. 6/10

12. Torn Through – Love the lyrics in this song. The discordant riffs and the fast paced narrative really helps the evilness of the song. 8/10

CONCLUSION: By far there best, but still...these guys do death metal better than most bands, especially in today's metal society. LONG LIVE DEATH METAL!!!

7.2/10