ALBUM REVIEW: Six Feet Under - Killing For Revenge

Killing For Revenge will be released May 10th on Metal Blade Records

Legendary death metal act Six Feet Under have returned from the depths of the graveyard with their first new album in four years, Killing For Revenge on Metal Blade Records. Following the band's previous release Nightmares of The Decomposed, the album was met with tough critiques and backlash from the fanbase. Front man Chris Barnes and company had a lot to prove with the release of their newest album. Did Six Feet Under crawl out of the depths to deliver a return to form on this new album? A return they delivered, but it's not the Six Feet Under we know them as, but a more heavier and faster version.

The album opens with the lead single "Know-Nothing Ingrate". With a very thrash heavy opening riff, the song starts the album off with a kick to the gut. The mix is WAY better and fuller compared to the previous album and fills the space of the mix. Barnes' vocals are stronger as well with this track. He sounds more grittier and definitely a lot stronger in his vocal performance. The riff is pummeling in its aggression and drive in the track. I love the guitars following along with Barnes' vocal delivery in the chorus as he delivers the song's title. The guitar solo is nice as it also follows along with the chorus before shredding and speeding up. The song returns to one more punchy and aggressive chorus delivery by Barnes. Very strong opening track. "Accomplice To Evil Deeds" has heavy opening reverbed and pummeling drums, mixed with chugging guitars. VERY full mix and production on the track. Barnes' guttural, grittier vocals have some punch and gravitas in the delivery. Drummer Marco Pitruzzella leads the song mainly with the drumming and pounding double bass. I like the wailing guitar leads while Pitruzzella goes manic behind the kit. The drive into the guitar solo and then back into the start/stop pacing of the band during the chorus is unique, with Barnes delivering an eerie and ominous whisper of the title track in the closing moments.

"Ascension" starts with fast d-beat drumming and tremolo guitar playing by Ray Suhy & Jack Owen, with little peaks of bass from Jeff Hughell. Barnes has some deep guttural depth in his vocals on the chorus, while the pacing of the song picks up. Delivering a traditional old school death metal sound in the riff and drumming. A more aggressive sound and punch, I LOVE this version of Six Feet Under. Yes, I love the groovy death 'n' roll sound the band is known for, but I love this old-school death metal sound that the band is nailing. Even down to the guitar solo and blast beat flurries near the three quarters mark of the song. My favorite track off the album so far. On "When The Moon Goes Down in Blood", the song opens with an intricate, chuggy guitar riff with blasting drums and double bass driving the opening. The tremolo guitars and thumping drums on the track have an almost black metal feel at some parts in it's sound, but with Barnes delivering his trademark vocals. The band seems manic in its speed up/slow down progression throughout the song, almost progressive death metal in it's delivery. The bass poking through near the quarter mark adds a nice high groove to it. A unique track from the band, but they make the track work, especially with the driving pulse of Pitruzzella on the kit, channeling his inner Gene Hoglan.

"Hostility Against Mankind" opens with that slow, ringing guitar that the band is known for. Very slowed down, almost a sludge metal sounding opening riff with Barnes' vocals sounding deep and low in the mix. It instantly gives you that slow, headbang, stank face feel as you follow along with the riff. A slow, groove-heavy riff that lets Barnes stand out on the chorus. The bass at the halfway mark, has so much grit and punch in the mix, into a nice heavy and chuggy groove style of playing that I dig a lot. Something that you would hear from a classic sludge metal band like Crowbar. The slow, chuggy, palm muted riff with driving but slow drums wraps the song up with one last punch as the song closes out. With "Compulsive", the double bass and tremolo guitars kick the song off with Barnes leading with his growls with little pig squeal like peaks during the verses at random parts. I love this faster paced version of Six Feet Under, the band seems like it's young again, hungry and wants to show the world how it's done. The guitar solo is something straight out of the 90's death metal scene, especially with the driving drums by Pitruzzella. But the guitars by Suhy & Owen are very strong on the track.

On "Fit of Carnage", the song opens with a very thrash metal riff by Suhy & Owen. More intense in the guitar playing and the mix breathes life and energy into the band's performance. Barnes' vocals, though a little deeper in the mix on the track, sound good and consistent throughout. Almost reminiscent of the Haunted-era of the band. The track flies by in its speed and playing. "Neanderthal" opens with a slow, down-tuned groove in the riff with Hughell's bass adding depth to the groove. Barnes' delivery of the song title has that deep, vibrato effect in his delivery, which I like since it adds a dynamic and unique delivery in the song. The breakdown at around the halfway mark leads the way to a bouncy, groove heavy riff and striking drums section with it. After that, returning to the back-to-basics opening riff. I LOVE the wailing guitar solo by Jason Suecof on the track. Adding a unique, 80's shred like delivery to riff, which works ridiculously well. "Judgement Day" has another thrash heavy opening riff that you'd hear off a modern day Exodus record. The double bass kicking in during the verse, along with the riff sounds SO good and with Barnes adding his gritty vocals on the track, it works really well. The faster, death metal sound on this track and a lot of the album is almost a heavier, in-a-way new direction since the band is moving away from the groove, death 'n' roll sound of past releases to go more in the old school death metal sound. It's a good direction for them in my opinion. With the impressive guitars on the track and drumming, this is a good fit.

"Bestial Savagery" has another catchy, ear worm like riff in the opening. Barnes doesn't show strain in his voice throughout the track and keeping good pace and growl depth in his vocals. Suhy & Owen continue their riff machine ways, speeding up the pace of the track and nailing the thrash heavy guitar sound. Along with Pitruzzella pounding with the endless in-the-pocket blast beats and drum fills throughout. The band is firing on all cylinders with the track, going for the gusto and the band is nailing it with the aggression musically and Barnes adding his guttural growls to the heaviness of the track. "Mass Casualty Murdercide" is another straight for the throat opening riff. Barnes is more prominent in the mix, more higher up and it still works with his gutturals. The song's thrash pacing, slows down at the halfway mark, to give it a progressive dual guitar harmony section. Instantly giving me Death vibes at that section. The aggressive tone and playing of the band returns after that section to go for the throat at the closing piece.

"Spoils of War" is the album's closing track. Starting with another thrash metal-crossover sounding drum and guitar combination, with flurrying bass throughout. Barnes matches the intensity in the growls to the best he can for the album's closing track. His gutturals are deep. I can't tell if his vocals are layered, but they do sound reverbed a bit, but it could be my headphones. The pounding double bass by Pitruzzella, interspersed by Suhy & Owen building with the riff back into that awesome opening thrash section. I love Hughell's flurry bass peaks throughout the track and near the end of the track as the band closes one of the band's strongest albums in their career. The band's cover of "Hair of The Dog" by Nazareth is a fun bonus track with the band grooving along to the cowbell and the main riff. Barnes guttural lows sound good in the chorus. The band is having fun on this track and this sounds like one of the best covers the band has done. Along with strong production and Barnes' vocals being the strongest it's been in years.

Killing For Revenge is a record that BLEW ME AWAY with how heavy, thrashy and good it was. This has the energy of a young Six Feet Under, similar to the Haunted-era but if they had a thrashy/crossover sound. The band seems to be moving into the old school death metal sound with this record and it WORKS. This was an impressively good record, and surprisingly there was no "EEEE" yells that became the trademark of Barnes, which I think Barnes wanted to show that he was more than just "the E guy". I think old school Six Feet Under fans will dig this album, and shows the band has risen like a phoenix from their previous album to spawn a new heavier, aggressive and faster era of the band.

SCORE: 10 / 10

1) Know-Nothing Ingrate

2) Accomplice To Evil Deeds

3) Ascension

4) When The Moon Goes Down in Blood

5) Hostility Against Mankind

6) Compulsive

7) Fit of Carnage

8) Neanderthal (feat. Jason Suecof on guitar solo)

9) Judgement Day

10) Bestial Savagery

11) Mass Casualty Murdercide

12) Spoils of War

13) Hair of The Dog (Nazareth cover) (BONUS TRACK)

FFO: Obituary, Debauchery, Gorefest

I talked with Chris Barnes about the evolution of the band's sound for this record and the history of Six Feet Under. You can check out the interview below.