Artwork by Rian Oktanto Art
Cerebral Engorgement are a three piece Slamming Brutal Death Metal band hailing out of San Francisco, California. Since 2007, they've had three full lengths, each of which better than its predecessor. The vocals have noticeably gotten a lot better with each release. This album allows vocalist Mike Simon's gutturals to shine through, proving he is a fecal gargling sewer dweller. Mike Simon is also in charge of the drumming on the album, which stands out as being the key part of the puzzle. Fast and relentless at times, slow and brutally detailed at others, the drums do not get boring.
Also, towards the end of the album are some punk rock influenced riffs that are both unpredictable and fun. In fact, guitarist Jesse Terres has quite a few memorable riffs throughout "Gastrointestinal Bleeding".On one hand, this is plain and simple barbaric Slam. On the other, it is unique, catchy, detailed Slam. At just over thirty minutes, it is kind of long for what it is and it may start to seem redundant, but like I said, listen for those details; more and more will come alive with each listen.
"Shitnami Shitstorm" is a stupid intro track that starts things off on a really bad note. I do not know what the sample is from, but it is not setting any mood other than over-the-top silly, something the rest of the album is not. "Gastrointestinal Bleeding" is surprisingly inventive and refreshing. The production quality and ultra heavy, pounding song structure as soon as the album begins brings to mind Kraanium's "Post Mortal Coital Fixation".
Cerebral Engorgement used to be a more straight forward goregrind band, and that definitely shines through in some parts (and song names). Despite the clean and crisp production, things feel raw and passionate and at times just unpolished enough. It is apparent that the band has thought these riffs through very thoroughly.
"Double Penetrated at The Dinner Table" is one of my favorite songs on here, containing one huge build up to slams and blasts so powerful you may actually feel like you are being double penetrated.
Things keep getting slower and deeper and more murky as you near end of the record. There are definitely some very creative riffs on here. These are highlighted and brought out more than usual due to the unique mixture in drumming styles going on between the ultra heavy slams and riffs. Think early days of Analdicktion mixed with modern day Kraanium.
These days everyone is all up in arms about the drums. With almost every release in this genre people are asking "Are they triggered?" "Are they sampled or programmed" "Are they even real?" Sometimes I even wonder "Can you tell?" While I definitely see the value in these questions and agree to some extent that real, untriggered drumming has a passion and rawness that remains uncomparable, I also refuse to completely write off music if it has programmed drums or over produced anything. There is a time and place for different sounds. Listening to music is always different and let's not forget: subjective.
If you like it you like it if you don't you don't. I happen to really like "Gastrointestinal Bleeding" by Cerebral Engorgement and I hope you do too. With so many new Slam albums recently and so many bands cloning each other, "Gastrointestinal Bleeding" does a good job of refreshing the familiar.
Purchase the album HERE
Keep up with the band on Facebook HERE
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