Carnal Ghoul – Back From The Vault (Album Review)

Release Date: May 20th 2022 - Supreme Chaos Records

Carnal Ghoul – Back From The Vault

Carnal Ghoul is a death metal band from Germany. “Back from the Vault” marks their first full album since the release of their debut EP “The grotesque vault” in 2013. I would have to assume that the 2 releases are somehow related or the latter is some sort of a continuum of the former. Important to note that in the process of writing the album in 2021 the band’s vocalist had passed away and it was then decided to complete the album with 11 guest vocalists. It is also important to note that the band consists of seasoned veterans who have been in other well-known German bands such as Milking the Goatmachine, Sodom, etc. From knowing that we should assume that this should be a great album done very professionally.

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Having listened to it several times, the first thing that sticks out is the old-school death metal sound which I would expect from death metal bands in South America who seem to be in awe of the 1990s.

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However, here we can hear exactly the same, – thick dirty, grindy guitars with a heavy “in your face” wall of sound with a boxy thin drum sound. You can hear several guitar solos throughout the tracks. “Backside of the Hatchet” could definitely be a contender for a feature track of the album. It really leans towards that Entombed death-n-roll style that is very hard not to enjoy for any sensible person. You could describe the sound as heavy but somewhat muddy or unclear. Especially the drums lack something in terms of a “punch”. That kick drum is very subtle. The whole album seems very much led by guitars which is actually what a great deal of modern production seems to be the opposite of where drums are louder than guitars. Here we definitely do not suffer from the downside of where modern metal production is taking things.

The music is in 4/4 mostly and seems very basic techniques. I can hear a lot of big chords, not so much riffing. Death and roll sound with some elements of brutal death metal. With 11 vocalists all being very different it is difficult to describe them all. Mostly they are aiming for a deep growl which works well with the music with occasional high screams. With every song having different vocalists, with some being excellent and others so-so, it leaves a weird taste in the mouth. It almost doesn’t sound like an album, as if I am listening to a playlist of some sort. My favorite vocalist is definitely in “Grandmaster Flesh”. My least favorite is in “Minion”, there seem to be some problems with the vocal performance.

Overall this is one of those albums that grow on you if you can get past some of the vocals. After a while even with the old school production, I am left to concede that these songs make me head-bang. I might also add that although I do enjoy the songs, I did not quite get the overall creative meaning of the songs or what the artist tried to express philosophically if anything.

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Perhaps this was intended to be headbanged to and everything else was written around it. My recommendation: if it doesn’t stick like a fly to honey the first time you listen to it, please give the album a few listens – let it grow on you!

Carnal Ghoul: Facebook

Release Year: 2022
Label: Supreme Chaos Records
Category: Album
Country: Germany

Reviewed by Justin