As time passes by, a band suffers changes due the musical evolution and the technologic improvements. But as long as a band endure many years, things can become pretty hard to keep the things going well. But there are times when the perception of the listeners can be wrong, and in these moments, a second hearing can make things clear. And on the second case is "Nightmares of the Decomposed", the latest release from North American Death Metal legends SIX FEET UNDER.

The early complains about this album is the change of tunes from the vocals. The classical low tunes were changed by a form of guttural that is aggressive, nasal and nasty, but not the one from the past. This change of Chris caused severe critics from the fans, but in reality, "Nightmares of the Decomposed" brings to the fans the same simple and brutal Classic Death Metal with Death 'n' Roll/Groove influences, and it's the first time that Chris and the guitarist Jack are doing something together again since CANNIBAL CORPSE. Maybe the album isn't their best moment (and it's not, in reality), but it's far from being a loss. No, those who think in this way should give the album more chances.

The band brought back Chris Carroll to produce one of their releases (he was a constant partner of the quintet until 2008's "Death Rituals"), and he did the mixing and worked on the engineering as well leaving the mastering to Chaz Najjar. The classical approach on Death Metal, but with a refined aesthetics, allowed the band to sound brutal and clear at the same time. It's an amazing work, indeed.

Musically, as told above, the band didn't change too much. SIX FEET UNDER can be faced as a Death Metal version of AC/DC, because they don't change things from one release to other. The fast and brutal "Amputator" (excellent and simple guitar riffs, but what amazing energy comes from this one), "Zodiac" (slow and bitter, with many good rhythmic arrangements, what means that bass guitar and drums are doing a great work), the catchy energy from "The Rotting" and "Death Will Follow" (this one shows some groove parts on the drums), the nasty bass guitar parts of "Blood of the Zombie" (a mastodonic weight and a sharp set of guitar riffs), the gallows comedy morbid feeling presented on "Dead Girls Don't Scream" (very good guitar solo), and the spine-breaker brutality of "Labyrinth of Insanity" are their finest shots.

Obviously, I can understand the complaints of the fans about Chris' vocals (and hope that it isn't something linked to his health), but in the future, "Nightmares of the Decomposed" can be seen as a classic that wasn't treated as it deserves due the first impression.