Hell on Earth

One day while I was searching for Carcass records I stumbled upon Carcariass’s “Hell on Earth.” The cover art, band logo, and album title immediately struck a chord with me, so I went ahead and bought it for $5. I have to say that this album was a lot better than I initially expected. “Hell on Earth” is entirely self-produced and self-distributed, yet you probably wouldn’t realize it from listening to the album. Production is clean, with special notice going to the bass guitar, which is audible throughout the album.

So what sets Carcariass apart from the countless hoards of death metal acts? Besides hailing from France, a country with a minimal metal scene, Carcariass stands out by incorporating a great deal of melody into their aural assault. Genre trademarks like guttural vocals and pounding double bass are still in full effect, but the solos and riffs are undeniably influenced by bands like Iron Maiden and In Flames (circa “Whoracle” and “The Jester Race”). Also worth noting is the effective use of bass solos, especially in the song “Children Slave.” Few death metal bands utilize the bass like Carcariass, and as a fellow bass player it always warms my heart to discover a band that employs the oft neglected, four stringed beauty.

But enough jibber jabbering, let’s get down to the actual music. After pressing play, the instrumental title track “Hell on Earth” blasts out of the speakers with captivating riffs and pounding double bass. The brief intro impeccably flows into the next song “To Be With You…In Your Grave,” which sets the tone for the rest of the album with a plethora of solos that meld seamlessly with the catchy riffs. All the subsequent tracks follow suite, until the album ends as it began, with a charismatic but concise instrumental. The only negative points here are a lack of true innovation and pedestrian death vocals. Despite these flaws, “Hell on Earth” makes a healthy showing in the two categories that are intrinsic to death metal: riffs and solos. I recommend this album to anyone who enjoys the bass guitar, death metal with some semblance of melody (think Vehemence and Vital Remains), and stellar lead guitar work.