Six Feet Under

Haunted (Metal Blade)
by Scott Hefflon

With death metal’s largest bands contributing to this supergroup, it’s no surprise it’s amazing. As shredded-throat demon growlers go, Chris Barnes of Cannibal Corpse is first-rate. Allen West of Obituary provides the tuned-low guitar power and rips out some seriously stomping metal. Terry Butler of Death and Massacre ends a three year hiatus to give a distorted bass roar to the sound. Greg Gall provides beats ranging from plodding and dramatic to double bass thundering with such crisp precision, you may forget his lack of credentials.

Their identity as Six Feet Under shows itself instantly. It’s a stretch from any of the bands listed above, and therefore may take some getting used to. First off, there is no hyperspeed drumming. None. Nada. I spent the first listen waiting for it to “kick in.” In that respect, it never did. I’ve often found hyperdeath drumming trite and tiresome after a few songs, but it wasn’t until I expected it and never got it that I realized I missed it. It breaks up the monotony of way heavy guitars plodding along at dinosaur pace. Occasionally, it picks up to a trot, or even a gallop, but it lacks the inject-the-beast-with-crystal-meth-and-ride-that-frothing-fucker-’til-its-heart-explodes pace. The songs blend together into mid-tempo grrr with similar guitar rhythms and nearly identical song structures. As a new band (not just a side project but an actual, touring band), Six Feet Under needs to develop diversity within their songs. As far as skills and raw, brutal power goes – of course it’s monstrous.