CATTLE DECAPITATION – MONOLITH OF INHUMANITY
Having begun as a grindcore band with a penchant for vegetarianism and gore Cattle Decapitation initially had slowly been crafting their sound, from their beginnings with their debut Homovore moving through different line ups over time the band moulded a style, with Travis Ryan’s inimitable vocal ranges that truly are horrifying, from his feral scream to his farm animal grunt, along with long time guitarist Josh Elmore whose fret’s know no limits and the inhuman machine that is Dave McGraw slowly the band had ideas for a new sound exhibited on The Harvest Floor, where a mix of the deadly grind, death metal and melancholy began its evolution, only to be nigh on perfected on their following release Monolith of Inhumanity.
Opening with “The Carbon Stampede” Cattle Decapitation really threw you into the deep end, from the word go its a no holds barred listen. With not only the music becoming more mature, so were thematic ideas. It’s no secret that Travis Ryan and co aren’t big fans of humanity but in the past have been rather unsophisticated in their lyrics, both in delivery and ideology. Whereas on Monolith all ideas, however disgusting they were are done with aplomb.
The sheer ferocity of the record make tracks like “Lifestalker” and “Dead Set On Suicide” sound completely untamed, like a wild animal the band launch into the listener the beginning of “A Living Breathing Piece of Defecating Meat” ensures that all the hype is true, sounding like a whirlwind of hatred, blood guts and malice whilst all the while having a hook as bold as the bands attitude. The jewel in the crown though, are the penultimate and final tracks “Monolith” and “Kingdom Of Tyrants” with one serving as an introduction to the other the haunting, monotonous thud next to the sound of burning slowly moves you into the best written Cattle Decapitation song ever. With Ryan’s agonising scream asking “If we were promised Heaven, then are we in Hell” making the final two tracks a beautiful set piece, with not only a philosophical outlook but haunting commentary on humanity itself. Absolutely essential and a serious stepping stone in the bands career, that most will try to imitate but none will achieve.
