Six Ft Under exceeds previous efforts with "Max. Violence"
11/03/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As good as the first two disks were, with their powerful, simple grooves and straight ahead heavy riffs, Six Feet Under simply devastate on their new album "Maximum Violence." Like on their previous albums, 6Ft Under crushes the listener with slower grooves and powerful headbanger riffs in the tradition of bands like Celtic Frost and Slayer, but on this album the band actually speeds up on some tracks. "Bonesaw" could be confused for a Cannibal Corpse song. Many songs, like the opener, "Feasting on the Blood of the Insane" use multiple tempo changes for great effect. I think the new guitarist Steve Swanson must have added much ferocity to this band and gave the band a creative shot in the arm. The band also recorded three awesome cover songs for the album: "War Machine" by Kiss, "Wrathchild" by Iron Maiden, and "Jailbreak" by Thin Lizzy. It is surpising how even with Chris Barnes' limiting death metal growl they are able to pull these songs of so well! The outstanding cover art is the icing on the cake. "Maximum Violence" is a masterpiece of raging power. This is one disk that stays in my CD player for long periods of time."
Chris Barnes is an animal!
mysanthropyk_overlord | USA | 09/21/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't think the band could've picked a better name for this album, as you get all-out "maximum violence" in both the lyrics and the music. Even without vocals, you'd be able to tell that this music isn't for preppy little Linkin Park fans; it's just a slow, ultra-heavy assault of metal that death metalheads will adore. The riffs aren't fast, and the playing is quite simple, but the effect created is much more damning in sound than, say, Cannibal Corpse (Barnes' old band). The vocals rule, and while the lyrics aren't the best in death metal, they get a (sadistic) point across. All three covers are good, particularly "War Machine" (I know someone who used that song in a prayer service at my old high school! That was quite funny). The original songs, however, are not to be forgotten; the two I enjoy the most are "This Graveyard Earth" and everyone's favorite, "Bonesaw." So, now that you're feeling violent, go get this album."
Death metal defined, one of the year's BEST metal release
mysanthropyk_overlord | 07/16/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Once again, Chris Barnes and company deliver. "Maximum Violence" is a free-for-all slaughterhouse of gut-wrenching lyrics and eardrum-assaulting riffs. However, if you are looking for the Obituary sound, this album may dissappoint, as West, their former guitarist from Obituary, has departed. Filling his shoes is newcomer Steve Swanson. This guitar sound, as well as Barnes' vocal style, is very reminiscent of the Cannibal Corpse days, along with faster beats, less continous rythym. Any fan of the death metal genre will enjoy this without a doubt. If you want a clear definition of good, old-school style death, look no further than Six Feet Under. Tracks I would reccommend are "Feasting On the Blood of the Insane," "Bonesaw," and "War Machine" (yes, a KISS song!). Also, if you are lucky enough to get the bonus tracks "Wrathchild" (an Iron Maiden cover) and "Jailbreak" (a Thin Lizzy cover), check them out...they are a great shoutout to the greats of metal..."
Pretty Damn Good for a death Metal Band.
TreyC | Australia | 05/19/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Im not really big on Death metal in general,Black metal is more my thing But its kind of hard not to like these guys.If you take them seriously It has Heavy as all hell Riffs,Great Composition and barnes Harsh vocals.If you dont take it seriously The lyrics are always good to have a chuckle at."
BETTER THAN ALL THE REST!
drunkelwood | Lewistown, PA USA | 10/20/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the best cd that sfu has put out. Although they have advanced musicly with both True Carnage and Bringer of Blood this cd still reigns supreme. They just haven't been able to top songs like Feasting on the Blood of the Insane, Victim of the Paranoid, Tourture Killer, or Hacked to Pieces. If you're just now hearing of Six Feet Under then you should definately pick this one up. If your already a fan but don't have this cd buy it now... you won't regret it. This cd is truely better than all the rest."