Cadaveric Crematorium
Serial Grinder
8.1
Frankly, Cadaveric Crematorium blend grind and brutal death in such a convincing manner that it makes me question whether I’ve ever heard it done better. After some thought, I have to say probably not. Serial Grinder, preceded by Cry Now Motherfucker and Pathologist Instability, is a fifteen-song compendium of destructive savagery, which excels on most levels. However, if you like your music devoid of even the slightest traces of humor, then these Italians aren’t for you.
In all seriousness though, I’m reminded of Corpsefucking Art, because the former mix heaviness with humor, yielding gratifying results. Cadaveric Crematorium – I’m pleased to admit – parallel their fellow countrymen insomuch that the material is deftly written and played, while the humorous interjections are welcoming and not off-putting in the least. But Serial Grinder may deceive you at first. “Valloggia 250” isn’t an overly bizarre introduction and then there's “Jesus Virus,” which features wavy riffs and several vocal approaches. Like a bad acid trip, once your eardrums decipher “Brixia Chainsaw Massacre” however, that’s when things start to get weird. Of course the oddness arrives piecemeal, and there are a couple spots where it sounds as if the Italian quintet felt they had to incorporate dead-up impersonations of Ephel Duath’s The Painter’s Palette. It’s unexpected, but is instrumental insofar as it prepares the listener for the zaniness to come. I love the intermingling of abrasive screams and guttural growls in “Zombiexperiment,” whereas the music itself complements Trephine, though the song is fairly routine for the standards of Serial Grinder. At 1:20 of “Family Vivisection,” you’ll notice real operatic vocalizations and keep in mind that, aside from the whimsical elements, there’s a ton of skilled grind/brutal death ripe for the picking.
“Paster of Muppets” is a fucked-up interlude, and it does indeed contain the first few bars from that heralded song. The title track “Serial Grinder” – along with “30” to Explode” – brandishes the most noteworthy, to-die-for riffs that Cadaveric Crematorium hold within their arsenal. By this point, if you haven’t been impressed by the quality apparent in the songwriting and musicianship, then I doubt the remainder will sway you although different from its precursors. While “La Vendetta del Fantasma” is a forty-second grind track and “Infection” is a clean melodic composition, “Dance of Maniac” is the band’s final hoorah before the nonsensical outro, “Kings of Farm,” leading Serial Grinder to expiration.
I’ve got a hangover to nurse, so I’m going to wrap up quickly by stating that there’s enjoyment to be had, care of Cadaveric Crematorium, and every noticeable characteristic is laudable in some respect. Therefore, I have no choice but to recommend this highly. It’s nice to have something good come out of Italy, besides the food.
