CARNAL FORGE is a band whose debut I reviewed twenty years ago.  Taking their name from the second track off CARCASS' legendary album "Heartwork," the band forged a sound true to their namesake with copious amounts of Thrash thrown in for good measure.  I always thought of them as a hybrid of "Heartwork" and MACHINE HEAD's seminal pre-fall album, "Burn My Eyes".  Fast forward to the present day and shamefully, I was not aware the band continued to forge on (yes, pun intended).  Is their sound still as visceral as it once was?  Still as violently, groove-filled, mosh-inciting, and ravenous?  To quote one Varg Vikernes, "Let's find out".

"Gun to Mouth Salvation" is the band's seventh full-length and begins with the track "Parasites".  Immediately, one is welcomed to a free tour of the riff factory.  Inspiring rhythms form the frame over which are laid harmonies for a unique melodic decoration.  I suppose one could allude to this as Melodeath, but this is far more rooted in violent aggression and true Heavy Metal than the oft-overindulgent wankery that receives that label these days.  Third track "Aftermath" offers a solid glimpse into the band's ethos.  With tons of hand-numbing triplets slammed against the sense of urgency created by AT THE GATES on "Slaughter of the Soul," the band approaches their creation.  There is never a dull moment as up-picked triplets transition to down-picked sixteenth notes.  The chorus is just the right blend of catchy and honest to pull the listener in without sacrificing cred.

The following track, "Endless War," features an exponentially increased intensity.  The shortest song on the record, it is like an incessant pummeling.  If you've made it this far, you were asking for it.  "King Chaos," the sixth track is a true demonstration of the band's arsenal.  At this point, the guitar tone must be elaborated upon.  It is at the intersection of brutality and clarity, an ample representation of the riffs devoid of cliché.  The eighth track, "The Order," is another short song that quickly gets down to business.  Without meaning to imply CARNAL FORGE being unoriginal, I was reminded of "Nausea" by AT THE GATES.  Perhaps it is the juxtaposition of intensity and unmasked intent that led to that conclusion.  Regardless, it is meant truly as a compliment.  The way that each guitar has its own unique part that when put with the other reveals the greater whole reminds me of how much I love Heavy Metal.

This album is a guitar player's paradise.  Of course, the same could be said for the drums.  To hear the instruments locked in as such is like rediscovering one's roots.  For me at least, it was the intersection of brutality and melody that originally pulled me into this lifestyle.  I'm sure the same can be said for many of you too.  It is sure to inspire one to dust off their instrument and practice as the rhythms and leads are at the very cutting edge of modern Metal.  Leads aren't sound effect-laden passages for showing off but rather present a larger realization of the melodic idea to be conveyed.

In an era when the scene is split between thirty- two different flavors of Death Metal, Thrash, and everything else, it is encouraging to hear an album by an experienced band that is not polarizing.  It is hard to imagine any Metal fan not enjoying this record.  I'll even go as far as to say I've enjoyed it more than the last AT THE GATES record.  In short, this is just a great Metal record built for the pit and to be cranked.  It is time to get back to basics and "Gun to Mouth Salvation" is the wake- up call.