Metal maniacs, rejoice! The Thrasher returns to present to you; CARNIFEX, hailing from the United States of America...performing Deathcore - signed via Nuclear Blast Records on their 6^th new album entitled: "Slow Death".

CARNIFEX specialize in destructive musicianship that knows no boundaries; featuring an abundant array of extremity that implements an atmospheric ride. "Slow Death" is the first album that I have listened to fully by this here quintet, and I personally enjoyed every ounce of its production. Deathcore is one of those genres that I can confidently give a pass, I appreciate the sub-genre in question, however. Coming from a world where the genre is frowned upon for not being heavy enough; which I quite frankly find heavily redundant after listening to this brute of a record, it clarifies the genre with precision and does it justice, one can rest assured that it's going to be a run for your money.  I'm always open-minded to expand my horizons, if I have to. One of the many benefits of being a journalist is getting into new quartets that you may have not otherwise and this is certainly a band of which I wish I had opened up to beforehand.

Typically, Scott Ian Lewis vocalizes some of the heaviest but deep, guttered growls and screams you could hear on a Deathcore record. ...and yet, while "Slow Death" is intriguingly dark, it works so well with the mixed variety of the atmospheric tone. One component is the orchestration utilizing, compiling additional programming that fuses the classical and electronic elements into one unique package. One could say CARNIFEX have elevated themselves from your traditional, and yet generic Core based album. The band aren't trying to sound like a new evolution of symphonic Metal, they are just adjust-fully compiling more depth into their sound. Shawn Cameron on drums thrashes out some incredibly sounding blast beats; similarly found with Fred Cauldron on bass. And the combined riffery of Cory Arford and Jordan Lockrey; intensify their low-tuned guitars into a powerful force of aggression.

"Slow Death" itself defines extremity; subjective to every will of being its own unique identity. Right off the earphones - "Dark Heart Ceremony" (possibly the fastest song on the album) fuses an orchestrated combination with the electronica integrity that just blows my mind with an atmospheric instrumental that goes on throughout the record. Songs like the titular track: "Slow Death" keep pummeling the production with this groovy balance but also massively built in dark tone that speculates the band's musicianship. I'm not at all a fussy thrasher, but the only critique I can think of is that the album tends to be slow a bit too often...by all means this is not a bad thing, it actually gives off some nice reception to the atmosphere that brutalizes a killer blast beat - profoundly executed in songs like "Drown Me In Blood", "Pale Ghost" and "Black Candles Burning", showcasing some nice constructively consistent elements of all things Metal.

"Six Feet Closer To Hell" is one heck of a catchy song, which is a high-point gem of the album. Very groovy yet rhythmic dexterity that makes me think of some progressive elements as if the band were experimenting some MESHUGGAH-esquire effects which work interestingly well with the complex; additional sub-genres implemented. "Necrotoxic", "Life Fades To A Funeral" (a 2 minute instrumental) and "Countess Of The Crescent Moon" keep the destructive pummeling that makes "Slow Death" one helluva ride; all songs feature a distinctive pattern of explosive riffery that will pleasantly surprise the newcomer and even veterans of CARNIFEX, with efficiency to keeping everything unconventional to the Core balance - this is an album that is for sure to keep the fresh craving music fans pleasantly satisfied. "Servants To The Horde" still keep everything mentioned; as well as ending it on a strong one with no compromises nor restraints.

"Slow Death" is a solidified, yet heavily atmospheric release that will intrigue you in no time flat. At first it might need time to grow on but with all the mentioned elements embittered; it's quite evident that this is one of Deathcore's most unique albums of 2016.<