When Florida's Death Metal scene began at the end of the 80s, the older Metallians (like this one who is writing these words) remember clearly that a great assault of bands came from Tampa. Obviously names as MORBID ANGEL, OBITUARY, DEICIDE and many others helped to build the Floridian Death Metal signature sound. But no band from the city helped Death Metal to become as great as it is like CANNIBAL CORPSE (being an irony that they aren't a native band, because they moved from Buffalo, New York, to Florida). Maybe the absence of change I the creative core of the band can explain this fact. And these disgusting and nauseous veterans are back to one more round with "Red Before Black", their latest album.

To define what you'll hear on the album, it's very simple: you all can call the band a Death Metal version of AC/DC or MOTORHEAD, because the band never changes its style. Yes, it's that simple and brutal form of Death Metal, with some fast moments, other slow ones, but always brutal, always heavy and aggressive. A solid wall of guitar riffs, sickening solos, technical bass guitar and drums playing, and excellent grunts. The simpler the recipe, the better they sound. They brought back Erik Rutan to work on the production, engineering and mixing of the album along with Alan Douches on the mastering. Is there any doubt that the band used again on "Red Before Black" the same harsh and brutal insight on the sound quality? It was done with care, so you can understand what they are playing, but the rawness is present as always.

Once more: don't expect any innovation, because CANNIBAL CORPSE is playing the very same since "Eaten Back to Life", so they won't change. This is their greatest and best feature, so be prepared for the ears' massacre on songs as the sickening and fast "Only One Will Die" (excellent guitars on riffs and solos, as always), the head crushing rhythmic work on "Red Before Black" (Paul and Alex are playing together since 1988, so it's easy to understand why the rhythmic session of the band is so good), the murdering and bloody hooking arrangements of "Code of the Slashers" (extremely charming slow parts are presented on this song, and what a great work on the vocals), the nasty riffs stabbing used on "Firestorm Vengeance", the harsh tempos and abrasive riffs of "Corpus Delicti" (Rob and Pat are in great shape, indeed), that usual rhythmic technique shown on "Scavenger Consuming Death" and "Destroyed Without a Trace", and the fine vocals shown on "Hideous Ichor" ("Corpsegrinder" is really one of the finest singers of Death Metal, no kidding).

If you are a Death Metal maniac, you'll like "Red Before Black". In other words, if you like Death Metal, you like CANNIBAL CORPSE.