Customer Reviews

Carving Out the Eyes of God

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"Carving out the Eyes of God" is the follow-up to their stellar 2006 release "A Haunting Curse." This album picks up where the previous album left off, continuing Goatwhore's long tradition of combining multiple musical styles to form their own unique sound. If you are a fan of Goatwhore, you can tell them instantly, even if you haven't heard a particular track.

Goatwhore's sound is pretty hard to put into a category, so I won't even try. I will say that there is a lot of thrash, grindcore, death metal, and black metal involved in the sound. The black metal influence is mainly in the lyrics, as there isn't a tremendous amount of tremolo picking or blast beats. It should also be noted that there are no synthesizers, as in symphonic black metal.

The album was produced by Erik Rutan, guitarist/vocalist of Hate Eternal and former member of Morbid Angel, who has produced tons of bands, most notably Cannibal Corpse's albums Kill and Evisceration Plague. Erik Rutan is, rightfully, in heavy demand as the go-to producer for heavy bands and his work on this album proves that he should be.

I would say that the major influence on the sound of this album is Celtic Frost, as the slower tempo riffs sound very much like old-style Celtic Frost. Guitarist Sammy Duet, from the legendary New Orleans band Acid Bath, has stated that he is a big fan of Celtic Frost and the influence is definitely on display here, as with previous Goatwhore albums. In addition to the old-style Celtic Frost riffs, there is a dose of black metal-style tremolo picking, but it is not overused. I am glad that this is the case, as too many blast beats and tremolo riffs are not to my taste.

The singer, Ben Falgoust (also the singer for Soilent Green), does his usual outstanding job delivering his anti-Christian lyrics, which are, as always, a step above average. Lyrically, Goatwhore is quite anti-Christian/Satanic, but that doesn't mean that the lyrics are inane or stupidly reactionary, as is too often the case with anti-Christian/Satanic lyrics. Ben Falgoust has a way with words and does what he does, in my opinion, better than anyone else writing his style of lyrics.

The bass and drums are very solid and hold the whole package together perfectly. The drumming is, thankfully, restrained at most points and this helps the music have more power. Sometimes fewer notes have more power and the guys seem to understand this.

Bottom line: Highly recommended for anyone who likes thrash, grindcore, death metal, or non-symphonic black metal (early Bathory, Venom).

9.5/10

Some thrashy blackened metal that picks up where "Alchemy of the Black Sun Cult" left off. Not all monotonous blast beats (but the blasts that are here are well placed). Ben sums it up perfectly in a recent interview, "We call it black n' roll. Where you take the rock and roll and put it with black metal. It's kind of like AC/DC actually does meet the devil on the highway to hell."

Goatwhore have always had a career based on routine. Ever since forming at the turn of the century, they have consistently kicked out new material every three years. Prior to 2009, there was 2000's promising debut "Eclipse Of Age Into Black," 2003's "Funeral Dirge For The Rotting Sun," and 2006's "A Haunting Curse." Also, they are a side-project of Soilent Green, and thus have always had to gather together, write new material, and go on tour during the downtime in between that band's releases. However, it has only recently has it become apparent Goatwhore have established a new trend: Outdoing themselves. Indeed, they make it a point to make each effort better than the last one. The aforementioned "A Haunting Curse," was the band's breakthrough, and stands out as being exceptional in the black metal community. But frontman Ben Falgoust and Co. have bested it with 2009's "Carving Out The Eyes Of God," which, frankly speaking, is pretty friggin' grrrreat!

So, this album is proof of the fact that Goatwhore make it a point to make each effort better than the last one, and now sound stronger than ever. But "COTEOG" is different in another way, too, because it starts to adopts a few new (and immediately noticeable) ingredients. One big difference is an immaculate production job. True, many black metal purists will probably call it a sell-out, but technically speaking, those people who hurl such allegations at the probably should have done so as soon as the contract with a fairly big label (Metal Blade) was drawn up. But when the result is this good, who gives a flying flip about that?! And this record may indeed sound more polished than most in the genre, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The production quality is crisp and cystal-clear, making it so every member of the band can be heard really well in the mix, and making the songs sound very unique, full, interesting, muscular, and well-rounded. Falgoust's signature black metal rasp is visceral (yet not overly so) and intelligible; the guitars are given a mighty tasty, heavy, and thicker-than-usual tone; and the drums are up-in-the-mix and not-at-all muddy.

Next, unlike before, the bassist is actually audible this time around (!). Nathan Bergeron (Soilent Green, ex-Paralysis) chips in with occasionally noteworthy bass work that help to beef-up the bottom-end while simultaneously making it less sludgy and more distinct. And finally, the inclusion of guitar solos are an unexpected delight because they are a worthy addition's to the band's already-scorching arsenal, and help to give some of the songs a bit of an epic vibe.

Other than those three things, though, business is the same as usual. The music is still influenced mostly by old-school-esque blackened death and thrash metal, but like always, there are plenty of crusty punk, grind and hardcore, groove metal, doom metal, sludge, and stoner rock elements mixed in here, too. Taking on a brutal and no-holds-barred attack that truly pushes the sonic envelope and all boundaries to the max, these ten songs are full to the gills with white hot speeds, blood-pumping vitriol, corrosive energy, and vein-bursting intensity. Which is thanks in a large part to the six-stringer, Sammy Duet, who leads the charge by constantly laying down searing guitar leads and deftly reeling off one monstrous pile of killer, savage, and imminently memorable riffage after another. Meanwhile, the rhythms are rip-roaring, and anchored by skinsman Zack Simmons (also of Nachtmystium), who relentlessly pummels away at his trapkit with grinding blasts, and free-flowing thrash beats. His style of playing may not be the most complex you'll hear, but it is more-than powerful enough to get the job done. Finally, it's all topped off by downtuned, grumbling bass lines.

The addictive, propulsive, and mosh-pit-ready "Apocalyptic Havoc" blows the starting gate open with great, barn-burning riffing, charging rhythms, rapid-fire drums, venomous vocals, chugging breakdowns, and a good, Motorhead-ish guitar solo. Its successor, "The All-Depressing" is built around impeccable, pummeling jackhammer-fast blasting and a solid bass bottom; but Ben Falgoust slips in a few vocal hooks and catchy choruses that add a surprising amount of accessibility to the song. The pounding title track is backed by heavy, lumbering rhythms, and monstrous death metal vocals. Also of note are some guitar harmonies and a surprisingly ripping solo that crop up near the end.

Then the listener is thrown a couple of curveballs. "Shadow Of A Rising Knife" is a rather unexpectedly moderately-paced, groove-oriented number with a Motorhead-esque vibe, and classic metal and hard rock influences (including two Eighties thrash-esque solos). Falgoust's vocals, however, are as extreme as ever: He trades off between low death metal growls, textbook hardcore barks, imitating Carcass' Jeff Walker, and spewing venom like Darkthrone's Nocturno Culto. And the record's centerpiece, "Provoking The Ritual Of Death," with is superbly ominous, brooding, and doomy atmosphere, is a well-written and well-placed monotony breaker. and a somewhat of a curveball to the listener. It does have occasional tempo pick-ups and grindcore-worthy vocals, but most of the tune is very creepy and crawling.

"In Legions, I Am Wars Of Wrath" roars back at full force and volume. It begins as a blistering, carnage-inducing assault, but then (around the halfway point) segues into a sludgy and plodding segment with hardcore-style breakdowns and spoken word vocal lines that evoke Pantera's Phil Anselmo. "Reckoning Of The Soul Made Godless" is a hard, deeply-grooving thrasher backed by tasty, chunky, headbangable guitar hooks an ominously low, humming bass line. Tracks eight and nine, "This Passing Into The Power Of Demons" and "Razor Flesh Devoured," are similar in that they are both "Blizzard Beasts"-era Immortal reminiscent noggin-busters, and both have excellent, ear-frying, fretboard-sparking riffs and speedy drumming throughout. Finally, the curiously-named "To Mourn And Forever Wander Through Forgotten Doorways" is the hair-raising set closer. It is a steady, slow-burning number highlighted by a crawling tempo, a really cool, unique, and spine-tingling opening bass line, and even (what-sounds-like) tribal percussion. It hits gains some energy and hits its peak around 2:50 in, but then comes its outro, which is again calm and docile (and keyboard-abetted!).

There's no question about it, "Carving Out The Eyes Of God" is Goatwhore's watershed release. And, not only that, but it is also proof that these New Orleans, Louisiana-based monsters stand pretty much alone atop blackened death-thrash mountain. Three word paraphrase: This thing slays.

This is the most complete album of extreme metal I've heard in years. From speed, thrash, sludge - it's all here, folks. Another great band from the South. They are the ones to watch out for in this decade.

This is a true metal band to lead metal onward into a new era. Wonderful stuff. Amazing to still see great, pure, true, musical talent these days \m/\m/

What more can I say that hasn't been said by anyone here already? I really like this album. I don't find it too raw, nor is it overly polished. It takes a good dose of positive lessons learned from Falgoust's other band Soilent Green (which is no bad thing given the bands depth of approach to making heavy metal!), and it has enough variety and dare I say melody to make it an absurdly good album.

Goatwhore, to me, has come from being just another blackened black/death metal 'we are badder than bad' band to something more respectable by way of consistently good songwriting as experienced here with COtEoG. Not sure people will like it but I found that I had to compare it with Soilent Green's 'Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction' almost straightaway, with its hammer and nail thrashy delivery. These boys don't like choruses and they don't like mediocre expressions of anything either, which is a refreshing thing. The Celtic Frost homage can be picked up too and is refreshing to hear.

My favourite song of them all for me has got to be the catchy title song COtEoG, but it's good from the get-go right through to the reflective end. Needless to say, I am basically finished with my heavy metal / death metal phase which has lasted me 5 or so years, and I have moved onto jazz, electronica and other forms of music. But I still really enjoy listening to this particular album. The only criticism I can find?.... is perhaps that they need a new subject matter, however it's a minor infraction for an album that even God will find Himself moving to.

Goatwhore have exceeded my expectations about 1,000,000 times over! I've liked them in the past but had no idea that "Carving out the Eyes of God" would be so good. Start to finish every song destroys, my favorites being the title track, "Provoking the Ritual of Death", and the opener "Apocalyptic Havoc". If you like Celtic Frost, you WILL like this album the inspiration is there throughout (the singer even goes "OOH!" like Tom G. Warrior LOL). Again, every song rules its consistently excellent, something too few albums can claim to be nowadays. Don't expect black metal though, Tr00 kvlt black metal heads may be dissapointed in the good production and lack of keyboards/eerie sound effects LOL.

i have been listening to and playing metal for over 25years which leaves me with quite a vast collection, so whenever amazon recommends me something i dont normally pay attention because i usually have whatever they are recommending. but on this occasion i noticed there was an album of a band i did not even know existed, this album was goatwhores-carving out the eyes of god. after 2secs of hearing the sample it was in the shopping cart and i was off to the checkout. what a brilliant piece of work! old school metal with a fresh new face. great lyrics and vocals, driving guitar riffs backed by some outstanding drum work all with a precise faceshredding production by the ever improving erik rutan. i cant wrap this album enough and have already purchased another of their earlier releases. i am over the moon to hear they are touring my home of australia with the mighty behemoth in april! BUY THIS ALBUM, IT DOMINATES!!

this cd is awesome!!its all goatwhore and then some.the songs are all put together well and have a little more depth than the songs on other goatwhore cd's mainly because sammy(guitarist) finally decided to throw in guitar solos which fit perfectly.they keep it as black and heavy as usual except for the last song on the cd which has a clean tone intro that is both hypnotic and evil.vocals on this cd are also a little easier to understand and catchy."who needs a god,when you've got satan?". try forgetting that line..lol

if your a goatwhore fan you already own this cd.if your thinking about buying it just do it.money well spent.

Goatwhore you make me happy. Very happy! I love you. God bless Erik Rutan.