HACKNEYED – Carnival Cadavre
- by Matt Coe
- Posted on 15-08-2011
It’s unusual to have a European death metal band take much of its cues from American bands, but on this third album from Germany’s Hackneyed, it’s clear that possibly Suffocation meets metal-core comes to mind with these 11 tracks. The growls bellow from the bowels of Phillip Mazal’s diaphragm, the churning nature of the riff attack decimates at varying mid-tempo to snail like pacing, and drummer Tim Cox astounds with his time changes and blasting to normal groove propensity from track to track.
I do believe the North American market will gravitate to songs like “Maculate Conception” and the speed march meets pit churning malaise known as “Feed The Lions” more so than the European consumers who like a touch more musicality to their heaviness. Overall “Carnival Cadavre” translates adequately as a record to live gig lifting movement, but there’s a little too much emphasis on the staccato laden passages and obvious instrumental breakdowns to keep Hackneyed in my current play list for long.
Maybe the 14-25 age demographic will clamor to this five-piece, but once again I feel the veterans outshine what Hackneyed attempt to convey.