Carnivore
Roadrunner, 2017
8/10
The criminally overlooked debut album from Carnivore gets the reissue treatment, complete with bonus tracks and a digital remaster of the classic from the trio that featured Peter Steele, who would later go on to form Type O Negative before his untimely death in 2010.
“Predator” starts the listen with a raw delivery of thrashy, propulsive speed metal that growls with a classic intensity, and “Carnivore” follows with a biting and blistering setting where gang vocals complement the hardcore sensibilities.
Further down the line, “God Is Dead” barks with a dark energy, while “Thermonuclear Warrior” chugs and thunders with an old school doom metal feel. “World Wars III And IV”, the album highlight, then pounds and throbs with acrobatic drumming and forceful riffs that accent the turbulent environment.
The last 3 tunes are demo tracks, and include the frenetic pace and shouted chorus of “U.S.A. For U.S.A.”, as well as “Sex And Violence”, which exits the listen with a punk fueled execution of early New York City Hardcore nods.
Amazingly, this album originally came out in 1985, when thrash metal was still in its fancy, and crossover bands were very few and far between. Steele would of course go on to spearhead Type O Negative, while guitarist Keith Alexander joined Primal Scream before dying in 2005. Louie Beato would spend time playing in Agnostic Front, and is the only original Carnivore member alive.
Certainly an important piece of thrash metal history, it’s great to see this reissue with the songs sounding better than ever.
Travels well with: Rezet- Deal With It!; Final Breath- Of Death And Sin