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Lymphatic Phlegm > Show-Off Cadavers - The Anatomy of Self Display > Reviews
Lymphatic Phlegm - Show-Off Cadavers - The Anatomy of Self Display

Now, NOW they've hit their stride - 90%

Noktorn, March 14th, 2010

It's as though with this release you can SEE Lymphatic Phlegm becoming more self-aware. I mean, what else explains the classy no-logo cover with its more high-minded gore? Certainly, half a decade down the road, we're looking at a very different band from the one that released 'Pathogenesis Infest Phlegmsepsia'. In many ways, this is the closest that Lymphatic Phlegm has ever gotten to getting everything write; every element of the band's music has taken a step up here, and I anticipate the next full-length from these guys being their true magnum opus and the opening of a massive door for goregrind. This isn't to say this album doesn't come damn close: 'Show-Off Cadavers - The Anatomy Of Self Display' is easily the best work Lymphatic Phlegm has released yet and deserves massive attention from not only goregrinders but the metal scene as a whole.

Perhaps the greatest criticism that I could level at previous Lymphatic Phlegm albums is their tendency to just circle around themselves; the tracks felt very self-contained and rarely felt like they were progressing to a particular point. This is the biggest change on the band's sophomore full-length; every track feels like it has a very specific beginning and end and the band is attempting to reach it rather than just sort of stew in the same few ideas forever. This is the result of a few things: the more powerful and punchier production, the much more definite riffcraft, and song structures which are tighter and less seemingly improvisational. Lymphatic Phlegm's style of trad and thrash-influenced goregrind riffing has really gone to a new level, both more technical and better composed, and every one seems to have a crucial place in whatever song it's in. Lymphatic Phlegm riffs tend to be somewhat samey, and while these are certainly right within the established confines of the band's sound, these songs seem to have a great more individual identity than ever before. As much as I like the album, I probably couldn't name any previous Lymphatic Phlegm song upon hearing it- that changes massively here.

Perhaps more surprising is that the vocals really seem to have taken a backseat. They're as reverbed and pitch-shifted as ever but pushed a little into the back of the production, giving the guitars more breathing room, especially with the more spacious sound on this release. There's a lot of little things that really make this a more powerful release; the much more articulate usage of samples, the varied and creative tracks, or even, again, the production job, all of which elevate the band to a level they've never been before. It really looks like Lymphatic Phlegm is embracing the fact that they're anything but a typical goregrind band, and accepting this identity has gone a long way to distancing them even more from the goregrind pack and putting them in a class of their own.

This is actually a goregrind release that might appeal to non-goregrind fans; sure, they probably won't be able to get over the vocals, but perhaps the strange riffs and impeccable (as always) drum programming might give them pause. Goregrinders and Lymphatic Phlegm fans in particular will absolutely want to grab this, as it points to something very new and creative in goregrind that I hope gets expanded upon in future releases by the band. This is perhaps Lymphatic Phlegm's most definitive release yet: grab it if you can.

Goregrind? Doesn't Sound Like It.... - 25%

brocashelm, February 12th, 2009

Hailing from Brazil, Lymphatic Phlegm perform gore-grind! I know that's coming as something of a shock, since their album graphics and song titles probably led you to believe they were a lo-fi neo-folk act. But no, it's true, and they are one of two bands worldwide to use the word "lymphatic" in their moniker, the other one being, of course, Disgorgement of Intestinal Lymphatic Suppuration.

But no matter, because the chief issue here is that Lymphatic Phlegm are not the best, worst, sickest, most brutal or disgusting gore-grind band I have ever heard, but they are in fact the dullest. They are two dudes, one who does everything musical, including programming their drum machine, and one who makes barf/retch noises. There are a few problems here, one of which being the pointless, interminable intro segments, which often amount to little more than the sound of liquid being sloshed about. Track 11 in fact is very nearly half pointless intro overall, which must be an accomplishment of some kind. But the larger issue is that the band's sound is absurdly thin. Other bands use a drum machine and get away with it, but the problem here is the almost total lack of bass frequencies and the incredibly weak guitar sound. It's as if they wanted to make a gore-grind album that didn't sound like one. Which in a genre such as this, where audio impact is everything because the songs are so often indistinguishable, is a pointless endeavor. On top of that, the guitarist seems to be playing the same song over and over again, so similar are his riff and melody ideas. I'm not kidding...I can barely tell one track apart from another, not because of relentless brutality (which is usually the case with this genre) but due to the amazing lack of ideas on hand.

I can't see devoted genre fans getting a kick out of this, and there's not much to rope in newbies either. More evidence for my theory that gore-grind has exhibited the least artistic growth of any metal sub-genre? You be the judge but only if you can get this waste of time for free.

The band who has goregrind in the palm of its hand - 92%

Spawnhorde, November 22nd, 2007

Epic riffing begins this monumental album by the criminally underrated Brazilian goregrinders Lymphatic Phlegm. Drawing influences from black metal and death metal, with a guitar tone as catchy as Arghoslent and drum programming more professional than your average Fuck...I'm Dead (or posers thereof), LP have come to show the world yet again what it is like to completely own goregrind. This band who no one knows about, who no one ever speaks about, who hardly anyone has ever heard of has crafted an album more epic in scope than any other goregrind album out there. Obviously, the Carcass influence is there, but Carcass could even learn a thing or two from this. Yes, I'm being serious. No I'm not trying to be offensive or whatever you'll say to me...I don't expect you to believe right off the bat that this is better than Reek or any of that...but, it SO is. Let's see...did Carcass have classical-influenced solo sections? I didn't think so. And you are wondering still why I am rating this so high...yet you haven't even heard this yet. Pathetic. Professionalism and dedication to the craft drips out of every mucus-infested, pitch-shifted vocal spewing this guy lets out, a sense of the 90's black metal scene elucidated in every riff, and the churning drum attack of death metal with fills and spazzy rhythms galore...you haven't heard goregrind until you've heard this band. And don't even think for a second that I'm joking, because I will have to let go some gynecological sickness on your ass. Fuck off nowadays goregrind, for thou hath been thoroughly ruled.