Exhumed — Gore Metal: A Necrospective 1998-2015

Exhumed has become one of the most legendary names in death metal, but that had to start somewhere. In 1998, Relapse Records released their debut, Gore Metal. If the name wasn't enough, the cover, consisting of a poorly phototshopped chainsaw massacre, was there to show you about the death powered gore slop that was inside. Fast, gross, and pummeling, Gore Metal quickly became a classic of the genre. Not content with the original production and having almost twenty years to stew on it, Exhumed re-recorded their punishing debut. Packaged along with the untouched original, this re-recording comes in a 2xCD set from Relapse Records.

Reviewing a classic album is a pretty daunting task. Having 17 years worth of reviews to go up against and trying to keep it fresh seems impossible. Luckily for me, though, my stubborn assholery kinda paid off. When Gore Metal first came out, I saw the cover and thought, "These guys are trying too hard," and never checked it out. I heard it heralded and never checked it out. Actually, when I saw this being re-recorded and re-released, I said, "Ugh, this album again?" Not only had I not heard this classic before, but I had it on my hate list. Things looked grim for this stubborn asshole when I saw Gore Metal in my inbox. While I still think the cover sucks and they're trying too hard with the gore, I'm glad I finally gave this album a listen.

Fast and relentless, Gore Metal should please any old school death metaller. Despite years of talk, I don't see how this is "deathgrind," "death/grind,' "death grind," or any other bullshit made up genre. This is nothing but unadulterated death, and it's done well. Opening with the punishing "Necromaniac," and not stopping to look back for the whole ride, Exhumed show that not only did they have the chops in 1998, but they still have them today...if not more. Songs like "Open The Abscess" and "Sepulchral Slaughter" seem almost like the bastard child of Morbid Angel and Suffocation (coincidentally, two of my faves). This Blessed Are The Sick-esque riffing provides a nice respite to the grimy death pummel that composes Gore Metal. Waxing on about Exhumed's riffs, speed, and song structure seems pointless this late in the game, so it would serve best to talk about the reasoning behind this re-recording: the production. In 1998, Gore Metal dropped on a scene deep into the throes of lo-fi, grim, black metal fuzz. Cleanliness seemed like a relic, so bands that couldn't afford or didn't know how to make clean production fit right in. I went back and streamed the original recording to get a feel for it and to fully assess what has been changed. While the grit of the original definitely helped to make the album stand out back in the day, it really benefits from cleaning up. Hearing all the notes clearly makes the album pop and this should allow all metal heads to enjoy a classic as if brand new.

It may have taken me almost 20 years to listen to Gore Metal, but I'm very glad I did. Maybe one day, the stubborn, judgmental dickhead inside me will go away and I'll be open to new things. Ha, yeah, right.