Monday 19 August 2013

Choice Cuts : Cattle Decapitated - Monolith of Humanity


This week it is the turn of writer Chris Markwell, to present his Choice Cuts selection.  As Loyd Grossman would say, Chris it is over to you!

Cattle Decapitated line-up for this recording was
Travis Ryan - Vocals
Derek Engemann – Bass
David MacGraw – Drums
Josh Elmore - Guitars


Review:
So there I was, all mellow and chilled out with no cares or qualms about anything. 

Then it hit me. 

Cattle Decapitation’s ‘Monolith of Inhumanity’ was an impulse buy: a simple transaction on a whim that brought me kicking and screaming into the world of grindcore.  And I’ve never looked back.  From the spewing opening of ‘The Carbon Stampede’ to the chilling, insidious final two tracks ‘The Monolith’ and ‘Kingdom of Tyrants’, no depravity is left alone.  Did I also mention that their music video for ‘Forced Gender Reassignment’ regularly tops polls as being the sickest ever made?  Yeah, that’s an achievement which they wear like a badge of honour on their chests.  These are sick puppies, ladies and gentlemen, and they’re vegan!  Lock up your tofu, people… oh, and listen the fuck out of this album.  It’ll do your soul good. 

Words and recommendation by : Chris Markwell

Album Details:

Monolith of Inhumanity is the sixth full-length studio album by American deathgrind band Cattle Decapitation, released on May 7, 2012 via Metal Blade Records

1.                  The Carbon Stampede 03:39
2.                  Dead Set on Suicide 03:18
3.                  A Living, Breathing Piece of Defecating Meat
4.                  Forced Gender Reassignment 03:54
5.                  Gristle Licker 04:54
6.                  Projectile Ovulation 03:31
7.                  Lifestalker 04:15
8.                  Do Not Resuscitate 03:18
9.                  Your Disposal 04:47
10.               The Monolith 03:39
11.               Kingdom of Tyrants 04:50

- Japanese bonus track: "An Exposition of Insides" (track 12).

- Limited edition of 1000 gatefold vinyl "World Landfill" colour

- Exclusive "Cattle Pail Kids" t-shirts designed from the original "Garbage Pail Kids" artist, included a pack of 5 cards (one for each band member, plus an extra tinfoil card) housed in a Cattle Decapitation recycling bin.

A mini-film/music video has been made for "The Monolith" with "Kingdom of Tyrants".

A particularly graphic music video was made for "Forced Gender Reassignment", directed by Mitch Massie. The clip was subsequently rejected by Vimeo and other video-hosting websites due to its detailed depiction of gore and sexual violence.

The entire band of Cephalic Carnage provides gang shout vocals on the opening track "The Carbon Stampede" (including Zac Joe and Jawsh Mullen who are former members of Cephalic Carnage).

If you haven’t heard this band or this record, go check em’ out. We’ll be back next week with yet more, Choice Cuts!!  So until then, stay metal and Doom On!!