Torn the Fuck Apart — Sexually Transmitted Torture
Sexually Transmitted Torture starts off on a very promising note with the horror movie sample (der, obviously!) nicely effected and adding thick atmosphere. The death that comes out of it on "I Can't Believe She Got Into the Van," though, turns less promising. Oddly structured and weirdly mixed (to me, anyway), this one works better in parts than as a whole. The grooves are nice and some of the guitar work is good, but it tries too hard at times to overstep its bounds. The attempts at getting techy and prog sound awkward and misplaced. This is evidenced throughout the album, unfortunately, and takes away from what could have been a pretty good, but standard death metal album. "Digested Genitalia" falls victim to this immensely. Notes sound misplayed or just a touch out of time and the spread of guitars in the field makes the song unusually thin. Add cliche'd samples to the mix and you've pretty much got Sexually Transmitted Torture figured out.
There are some cool moments spread about this album, though, you just have to wade through a lot of tired and awkward metal to get there. The softer "Unforgiven"esque breakdown in "Inserted Vaginal Castration Device" is a nice change of pace. It may not be supremely original, but they handle it well. Also, the cover is pretty rad. As one would expect, it's over the top and gross, but it's well done and has vivid colors. Lastly, I should probably point out the guitarist's lovely eye brows. Most metallers overlook such details well plucked brow hair.
Sexually Transmitted Torture is a pretty standard death metal album in the vein of twenty year old Cannibal Corpse. Considering how open and experimental death metal has become in those twenty years, it's a bummer that Torn the Fuck Apart has taken such a well trodden path. Oh well, I can always spin Gorguts - Colored Sands.