For those who fancy themselves a hellacious round of Progressive Technical Death Metal (specific, I know), a certain CATTLE DECAPITATION may grace their playlists in multiple instances. And as of August 7, 2015, twelve more of those instances have fallen into mortal hands to be consumed by the awaiting ears of the eager masses: "The Anthropocene Extinction" is the exact album containing those twelve new songs, crisp as a brand new twelve dollar bill. Their follow-up to 2012's "Monolith of Inhumanity" is a crushing cacophonous collection, doubtless in my mind to widen the eyes and macerate the minds of fans old and new.

I was certainly looking forward to hearing this album and though I was not sure what to expect, I was extremely pleased and by no means disappointed in the structure, composition, and intensity. How well constructed is "Anthropocene" is evident in the instrumentation, varying rhythms, the lyrics, and the way each song fits together as a piece of a puzzle. By song titles alone, it is evident that the album is thematic and tied together by subject matter.

CATTLE DECAPITATION have earned a reputation as brutally creative masters of a genre that is one of the most versatile in the entire spectrum of all that is music. Their talents are perfectly refined and as a band and the time and effort they spent creating this music is monumental. From the guttural breakdown in "Manufactured Extinct" to the blasting scream delivered at the end of "Mammals in Babylon" to the haunting acoustic harmony in "Ave Exitium," there is something mysterious and perplexing about how they have become so good.

The guitars sound about ten deep, the riffs forcing the listener to pay attention and the distortion ringing in your ears for an hour after you hear it. And need I even mention the drumming of David McGraw? I am willing to make a direct comparison to the likes of George Kollias (of NILE) in terms of depth, skill, technical capability, and percussive acumen displayed in each song. The constant bass and snare drum blasting flawlessly had me a little slack-jawed and heavily impressed. For the vocals, I can say that at times, Travis Ryan gave me a Corpsegrinder/Randy Blythe vibe, possessing the growl but at the same time, being able to make the words audible. The combination of the low vocals and the shrieking, demonic highs made me feel a bit outside my comfort zone, but I liked every second of it!

Each album by this band strengthens their case to be regarded as genuine legends of Death Metal. The name CATTLE DECAPITATION goes synonymously with aggressively evil and murderous music, and their latest endeavor is a firm stamp on that statement. So, in this waning age of man, let us prepare for our inevitable demise, courtesy of "The Anthropocene Extinction!"