Cancerbero - Reconquering The Throne of Death
Chile
Veins Full of Wrath Productions / Headsplit Records
Chile is a country that is revered for producing some of the best extreme metal the underground has to offer, and bands like Cancerbero is 100% proof of that. They’re one of those cult bands that go back to the ‘80s when they released their first demo in 1988 (“Guardian of Hell”) and their second demo in 1991 (“Perpetual Agony”). It must be noted though that the singer, Peter Claramunt, is the only remaining member from the original line-up, including the fact that the band has had many line-up changes over the years, however they've been resurrected from the grave and reanimated, to bring DEATH to the world once more.
It’s quite hilarious when I see flowery positive language and empathetic phrases with words such as “so nice” and “wonderful” being used in reviews for death metal bands. It’s counteractive to the very nature of the music, and quite frankly, just plain moronic. I’d be insulted if I played dark, violent and abstract death metal and some moron referred to it as “lovely” and “wonderful” or whatever tremendously pathetic hippie buzzwords are popular amongst this new breed of metalheads nowadays – and believe me when I tell you – Cancerbero certainly needs none of that, but I digress. Onto the music...
“Reconquering The Throne of Death” is the band’s second full-length and an absolutely sick release. It was one of the best albums from 2019. Any idiot that disagrees can go self-abort by drinking hydrochloric acid for all I care. This whole album is characterized by a profoundly morbid aura, featuring an array of filthy riffs that render to the blasphemous sound, combined with the totally vile vocals, which I must confess, is perfect for this style. I really like the drums on this. Nothing flashy, yet perfectly arranged and integrated into the mix, featuring a variety of caveman beats that keep it interesting. Believe me when I say there is no shortage of depth to this release – the whole thing radiates filthy charnel vibes that will make you feel like you have just awakened some subterranean creature in a pit drenched in the vile, howling stench of death. Does that sound “nice” and “wonderful” to you? I didn’t think so.
The album has that perfect middle-ground between raw but audible that gives the music its charm. I’d rather listen to this kind of material than most of the cleanly produced vomit that’s called metal nowadays made by pimple-faced geeks that take up space in their mother's basement masturbating to porn. These Chilean warriors are the pure essence of death metal and “Reconquering The Throne of Death" is a must for maniacs into the style. For fans of: Sarcofago, Grave Desecrator, Blaspherian. Favourite track: Evil Incarnate. (HT)