A Lesson in Beast Anatomy
My
adventure with Japanese metal started really spectacularly. Somewhere in 1997
my letter box was haunted by the first album of Intestine Baalism, the beast
coming straight from Tokyo. I remember that I saw and read several enthusiastic
reviews in the underground press and now I can assure you about true words of
editors. Through all these years “An Anatomy of the Beast” is still excellent
album when we talk in death metal categories. And to be honest with my metal
myself, I neglected this record a bit in the past. I mean, now I praise it much
more than in the days of forgetfulness. The next important thing, I have to buy
their next two albums, but I think it won’t be an easy task.
Ok, let’s
move back into the year of 1997 when the first album of these Japanese
metallers came in. For sure it was (and still is!) something fresh, they
skillfully mixed the best elements from two schools of death metal (American
and European) and added their own unique touch. Forget about dull grinding
US-death outfits, forget about sweet Gothenburg melodies, these tunes are
combination of pure death genre with such names as Cannibal Corpse, Immolation
and the best representants of Swedish bestiality (Dismember, Desultory,
Hypocrisy). The production is impeccable, great, raw and vivid sound
effectively slaughters my ears, in addition I like very much the way of lead
guitar realization, this is rather rare in metal world yet interesting beyond
doubt, man! Some proofs? Just take a listen to the first song called “Corporal
Celebration” which is in fact a correct synopsis of entirety: many tempo
changes from blasts to heavy slowdowns, devastating guitar works and two kinds
of vo-kills. Here I must stop at the person of Seiji Kakuzaki, the mastermind
of the band, his growls are in the vein of old Finnish crews like Demigod and
Demilich, and I think he did really good job. Besides screams are also present,
but they are served rather seldom. The next factor worth mentioning is… melody,
especially in guitar leads and some riffs. Yes, melody, but let me be damned if
I would call this slab melodic death metal. In first track, after four minutes,
there is a solo lead, but it brings a reverie, strange feeling indeed, it
appeared totally unexpectedly in the song. Then the music runs into quite
depressive guitar work. The album shows its content in excellent way, it is
really good start to listen to entirety.
The next
song I’d like to write about is “Cannibal Sodom”, the fourth one, which I think
is the best and most recognizable here. At the beginning, the storm of
mindblowing catchy riffs attack the listener, and after 53 seconds the guitar
lead brings us astonishing tunes and turns into death metal inferno. Such great
shows are served here three times, and my memories fly towards the land of
Sweden, where bands like Desultory and Dismember ruled. Absolutely killing and
memorable track. And when I write about Sweden, there is a need to mention about
the last song “Tyrant”, for me Swedish death metal made in Japan. But do not
expect any imitation or poor copy. Just listen to these killing riffs after 44
seconds, and tell me, how I can’t praise this band hearing such excellent
riffs? Paralyzing slowdowns by rotation with fast, furious energy. Simply the
essence of the genre…
So, without
any hesitation, this album is absolutely must-have in every death metal
collection. In short description just above, I introduced only three tracks,
but believe me, the remainder isn’t worse. Only two of them have no solo lead: the
title song and “Burn Thou in Effigy”, an
one minute acoustic miniature. My first feelings during listening to the album
weren’t surprise. And now I still feel the same: “An Anatomy of the Beast” is a
truly devastating piece of death metal with all the elements needed in this
genre. Energy, brutality, twisting melody, freshness. No boredom found. So even
today, after 15 years of existence in my metal collection, I highly enjoy what
they composed. Superb!
93/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(previously written for Encyclopaedia Metallum, on September, 2012, now modified a bit)
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