Viral Load "Backwoods Bludgeoning (Sick Hicks From The Sticks)"

Tracklist: 01. Backwoods Brutality 02. Beetlejuice Bukkake 03. Cumstained Murderweapon 04. Ice-Pick Vasectomy 05. Skill-Sawdomy 06. Lawnmower Lobotomy 07. U-Haul Full of Dead Bodies 08. Inoculated Life (Gorguts Cover) 09. Outro Release: 2006 Genre: Brutal Death Metal URL: www.viralload.net Label: www.amputatedvein.com

Shawn Whitaker, the workaholic of death metal, comes back with a new VIRAL LOAD-album. The band indeed managed to gain a cult-like status inside the DM-scene, due to their current releases "Brutalized Beyond Belief" & "Practioners Of Perversion". It's pretty incredible in how many Texas death metal-bands Shawn Whitaker's in; there don't seem to be any Texan bands able to get by without him. So well, the new album is called Backwoods Bludgeoning (Sick Hicks From The Sticks), and the former band shrunk to a 1-man band. But it doesn't affect negative at all. On the contrary, Shawn has released a real good DM-album. Especially the vocals sound a lot better to me than those from older VIRAL LOAD-material; the annoying screams finally are history. Unfortunately a little negatively striking is the super annoying drumcomputer, as it just sounds way too artificial. In my opinion they should give up the computerdrummer and try to find a real capable drummer now, which shouldn't be too hard for a well-known band like VIRAL LOAD. All in all a very awesome album, capturing everything you could ask for; deep guitars, technical riffing, awesome vocals and even a shitload of groove. But something's missing and preventing a top-rating. Backwoods bludgeoning's sound is IMO just way too close to Shawn's solo-project INSIDIOUS DECREPANCY. The album could easily go through as the new INSIDIOUS. Now to the songs; all of them are fast filled with many blastparts on one side, but let freedom for slower groovy parts. Even old school-death fans get what they need, because Shawn probably has a preference for the old school. After he put a super awesome IMMOLATION-cover on the 1st INSIDIOUS DECREPANCY, it's now the canadian DM-legend GORGUTS's turn. A very nice cover version, even with the drumcomputer. The album's rounded off with a melancholic, dark guitar & bass-outro. I'm really glad VIRAL LOAD hadn't had the stupid idea to use a noise outro, like many others did before. So for all VIRAL LOAD/INSIDIOUS-fans this album should be an absolute duty. But DEEDS OF FLESH-fans should be satisfied with Backwoods bludgeoning as well, even if the drumcomputer destroys a lot from the overall rating. Maybe song titles like 'Beetlejuice Bukkake' aren't for everyone, but they indeed made me grin. I also think that 30 minutes is a proper running time, but maybe there can be a bit more time and a bit more personal character in the future.

Rating: 80 % | from Gore | Date: 17.08.06 | Time: 03:05	shut down