Carnifex – Die without Hope


Carnifex - Die Without Hope album cover

 

It doesn’t seem all that long since American deathcore artists Carnifex announced they would be taking an indefinite hiatus and dissolving back into the obscurity they came from. Just two years later the band are back ripping their way onto the scene again with their fifth studio album Die Without Hope. The time away has obviously had some impact on the band, announcing a fresh sound that sees a distinctly heavier touch of death metal and a shiny new deal with metal label giants Nuclear Blast.

 

Although this album does see a move away from the more generic deathcore traits that were prevalent across their earlier work, it is still littered with a distinct core sound that it never quite shakes off. Traces of melodic death creep through, but dissolve back into generic breakdowns and unimaginative vocal lines. This is matched by the production; some parts dazzle with rich guitar tones and symphonic promises, but the drums click their way through the album, often sounding more like a machine than a kit. There are hints and promises of experimentation and fresh ideas but the ceaseless focus on heaviness leaves the album lacking any real emotional depth, and the squeaky clean sound sucks any grimy pleasure out of the violently unrelenting brutality.

Despite this, Die without Hope shouldn’t be totally dismissed. Smaller surprises lie between the stuttering riffs and uninspired screams, with ‘Dark Days’ containing an almost Dimmu Borgir-esque intro and ‘Condemned to Decay’ throwing in some death metal grooves. This album will still appeal to those with a softer spot for the likes of Whitechapel or Chelsea Grin, but for the more seasoned death metal fan it still falls a long way off the mark.

 

3/10

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CAITLIN SMITH

 

Review by CAITLIN SMITH