Customer Reviews

Every Nerve Alive

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Slap those headphones on, and get on out onto the streets full of shoppers and SUV's and all your fears will float away as you are assaulted by the Old School Greatness and Godly Hard Core Metal of 'Awaiting the Kill' and 8th Great Hell and hey, I have the bonus track version (3 xtra songs) so Its even greater and longer. This is the metal you want to turn on when you OD on really good grindcore, the kind that fries your brain, this album is soothing in comparison, but in a good way. I strongly advise you purchase 'Endless Regurgitation' as well, if you want an onslaught of pure sick noize.

Ok, I admit it - I'm old fashion. Growing up with bands like SLAYER, SODOM, DESTRUCTION, POSSESSED, DARK ANGEL etc., its hard for me to turn a deaf ear on an Old School release which, in case you haven't been paying close attention, the scene is boiling over with these days. Now hold on to your sacks my brothers because I have a thing or two to say about RITUAL CARNAGE and this, their second release.

Firstly, I had intended to hold off this review until I had listened to the band's first release, The Highest Law which has not arrived in my mailbox just yet. However, this god-damned album is so friggin' intense I just can't see waiting another day to get this off my chest. Now listen carefully: Every Nerve Alive is I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E!!! I don't even think one has to be of the Old School mentality to appreciate this album but it sure as hell helps because this is nostalgia, intensity and brutality all wrapped into a nice warm flour tortilla and served up with some scalding hot salsa. Got beer?

The album begins with the classic 80's approach of heavy chugging guitars and gradually builds into a rising crescendo, capping off with a straight-up-your-keister Thrash tempo with ripping rhythms and some perfect Thrash vocals. I just knew my money was well spent after a minute or so and couldn't have imagined just how intense the feverish pitch would grow until one track after the next crashed into one another without respite. The band offer no clemency until at least the 10th track when they break for a slower, MACHINE HEAD-like Power/Thrash track that is as good as any of the heads-down ragers packed in before it. This is truly classic Thrash from the past but heavier and more savage than anything being played 10 to 15 years ago for sure. Amidst all the chaos and absolutely superb riff mayhem I can muster only one grievance - the drumming. Both the drum production and the playing itself is a bit undernourished. While the beat is almost always at high velocity, it lacks variance and diversity. The drum sound too, isn't mixed in quite so well. Again however, this is small potatoes when you consider the totality of aggression and energy served up by the band. Flaying riffs, insanely jagged leads, punishing vocals - its all here. RITUAL CARNAGE have released Old School mastery like nothing I've heard since DEVASTATION's Idolatry which, incidentally, this album reminds me a lot of. You will buy this and you will like it and that is all there is to it!

When my copy of Every Nerve Alive arrived in my mailbox, I immediately put it in my CD player and after listening to it all the way through, this issome of the best Thrash I've heard in a long time.Every song just kicks butt, great riffs,solos,sickdrumming,and killer vocals. Ritual Carnage can stand with the best of them and come out on top.Fans of Dark Angel, Slayer, Devastation, etc. willlove Every Nerve Alive. Buy the import version, it has 4 bonus tracks.