General Surgery - Corpus In Extremis: Analysing Necrocriticism

March 21, 2009

Reviewer: Peter

Mention the band name General Surgery to a person new to metal music and the odds are their first impressions would range from death metal to grindcore with some nods to fellow Swedish bands Dismember and Carcass.  While not nearly as well known as their counterparts, the band has been around for some time, yet only came into the scene only a few years ago with their 2006 debut album Left Hand Pathology.  Through all of the band’s lineup changes (more on that later) and their struggle to get some attention, that album, combined with a 2005 appearance at Maryland Deathfest was the band’s coming out party.

Now, armed with a record deal with Listenable Records, as well as another appearance on the 2009 appearance at Maryland Death Fest, it would only be appropriate that General Surgery comes forward to administer aural surgery upon its listeners with a new album in Corpus in Extremis: Analysing Necrocriticism.  The album is exactly what you expect and perhaps, just a little more.

Those who have followed General Surgery for years will no doubt notice a change in the vocal department.  Out is longtime vocalist Grant McWilliams and in is Erik Sahlström.  However, newcomers to the band won’t think much of the vocal change, other than the fact that General Surgery carves their way through fifteen songs with the precision of a veteran surgeon.  The music is nothing fancy, just old school death metal with a little grindcore thrown in for good measure.  The guitar solos are streamlined and are quick-hitting, just like the rest of the music.  In fact, there is no room for breakdowns, clean vocals, or any other window dressing such as keyboards.  Sure, some of the song titles will turn a few stomachs, titles such as “Final Excarnation” and “Perfunctory Fleshless Precipitate,” but what else do you expect from a band who merge death and gore into their music?  Most of the songs are generally under the three-minute mark, with “Virulent Corpus Dispersement,” “Mortsafe Rupture,” and “Deadhouse” being the only songs that run well over that mark.  That means most of the songs cut through the aural senses quickly and without anything to numb the pain.  However, it is “Virulent Corpus Dispersement” that proves to be the real highlight on the album, as it is the longest song on the album and yet, also shows the full range of the band’s abilities.  Sahlström proves to be more than capable of handling the vocal duties on the album, never losing much from the first song to the last song.  Production values are good, ensuring that every note cuts like a sharp scalpel.

2009 is setting up to be the year of General Surgery.  A stop on Maryland Death Fest combined with an album that proves that the band is no one-trick pony will go a long way in doing that for a band.  Corpus in Extremis: Analysing Necrocriticism is sure to satisfy fans who are looking for a death metal album that will remain stuck in their heads long after the album ends.  This is an early contender for a spot on the year-end top ten lists for sure.

Release Date: March, 2009
Label: Listenable Records

TRACK LISTING

1. Necronomics
2. Decedent Scarification
    Aesthetics
3. Restrained Remains
4. Final Excarnation
5. Necrocriticism
6. Exotoxic Septicity
7. Adnexal Mass
8. Virulent Corpus Dispersement
9. Ichor
10. Idle Teratoma Core
11. Perfunctory Fleshless
      Precipitate
12. Plexus Necrosis
13. Unwitting Donor/Cadaver
       Exchange
14. Mortsafe Rupture
15. Deadhouse

Total playing time: 36:22

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