Review SIX FEET UNDER ‘Killing For Revenge”

Six Feet Under is the brainchild of former Cannibal Corpse frontman Chris Barnes, who formed the band as a side project in 1993. After parting ways with Cannibal Corpse, Six Feet Under got full attention and it was the start of a long death metal endeavor that is still going strong.

The Florida-based death metal icons have a new album in the starting blocks with “Killing For Revenge”. It is the 14th studio album the band has released and it is one of the better ones.

Six Feet Under had some weaker releases during their career, but what the band offers with “Killing For Revenge” is definitely quality. As the title suggests, ‘revenge’ is a kind of thread that runs through the 13 songs on the album and it was after all the work was done when the title for this album was decided. One of the songs that deals with the theme the most is the haunting “Bestial Savagery”, which describes the destructive results of man-made storms. The song is a real blast.

The album and the band benefit from the collaboration of guitarists Jack Owen and vocalist Chris Barnes. While the latter provides the guttural growls, it is the musical filigree of a guy like Owen that provides the breathtaking counterpart. With racing speed (“Ascension”) but also with some slower tracks like “Hostility Against Mankind” the album provides a great flow representing the current musical mindset of Six Feet Under. And don’t forget to listen to “Neanderthal” which is a slowly creeping musical punch in the face.

Also worth mentioning is the opener that sets the tone for this release. “Know-Nothing Ingrate” is a massive start to the album. Equipped with a certain thrash vibe, the drum-driven opener is a brutal death metal anthem that already shows the great influence of the Barnes/Owen collaboration.

Last but not least, Six Feet Under also connect to the “Graveyard Classics” releases by covering “Hair of the Dog”, one of the Nazareth classics. Compared to some of the earlier cover versions, this one sounds quite good; not to forget the cowbells that add a special touch to this cover version.

What started with “Nightmare of the Decomposed” continues with “Killing for Revenge”. Six Feet Under have found their way back to their own strengths and instead of focusing on speed or groove, the latest offering shows all aspects of the death metal pioneers from Tampa, Florida.