CARNAL FORGE is one of the rare cases from Sweden that has managed to attract my attention from the first contact. It has been some time since the band last released something, but you will probably say that some things have changed since then and CARNAL FORGE needed some time to get back on track. By now, you may wonder what has changed. Only a few things but since you are interested to learn read below.

Swedish Thrash/Death Metal act CARNAL FORGE was formed in 1997 in Vasteras. Even though the band hails from Sweden, Jari is a native of Finland and Jens is a native of Spain. So, after the band's incredible Aren't You Dead Yet? (2004), former singer Jonas Kjellgren left the band to concentrate on his work with SCAR SYMMETRY. He was replaced the same year with Mortensen, a singer I didn't have the chance to know, even though he has worked with bands like LEECH, REVOLVER and SLAPDASH. Not only this happened, but the band also left Century Media and signed a contract with Candlelight to release their sixth full-length album.

Did the label change and the new singer had any impact on the band's music? I will have to figure this out by listening to Testify For My Victims. Since I have already listened to it many times I can say that CARNAL FORGE continue with their aggressive Gothenburg style Thrash Metal, but this album contains some more melodic parts than their earlier albums. In my opinion, Kjellgren had a much more aggressive tone in his voice, but Mortensen is a bit less brutal. While listening to the album I found some AT THE GATES and DARK TRANQUILLITY style parts here and there, something that does not fit CARNAL FORGE's music. It is just that I was expecting to face something that I faced while listening to their earlier albums, furious riffing and relentless drumming that grab your balls until you fall down and scream for mercy. Unfortunately, I didn't find the same passion and the same aggression in Testify For My Victims. Unfortunately this is true, CARNAL FORGE have put aside their rage and anger to concentrate on some more melodic and technical parts. I used to admire this band because of its incredible unique sound. In Testify For My Victims the band has lost this unique sound and has turned into a classic and boring melodic Thrash/Death Metal band from Sweden.

This album is nothing more than a disappointment for me. I was impatiently waiting to listen to one more CARNAL FORGE masterpiece, but the only thing I got was this common and uninspired CD. I hope CARNAL FORGE will quickly find their way back to their old and good sound that made them what they are today. I will just wait for their next full-length effort. The only thing I want to do know is to scream as loud as I can BRING BACK KJELLGREN!