Right here at AMG we now have a function that runs sometimes referred to as Contrite Metallic Man. For many who’ve by no means seen one move by, that is our take-backsies article, the place we retroactively up or downgrade assessment scores with the advantage of hindsight. As they’re rare and I’m hardly ever unsuitable, I haven’t participated in a single but, however I’ve been brooding over one entry I have to sometime make. I overrated Foetal Juice’s final album Gluttony, only a tad. It’s an excellent album, however not a terrific one. It doesn’t have the memorability to present it adequate longevity for a spot among the many hallowed 4.0s. That doesn’t imply it wasn’t an extremely entertaining slab of no-nonsense demise steel, although, so I used to be wanting ahead to plunging into the following bowl of grisly grits from the Manchester gents.
When your nearest ancestor is Cannibal Corpse, a band well-known for not altering in any respect, an analogous absence of evolution is to be anticipated. Certainly, Grotesque confirms Foetal Juice has one objective and sticks to it. Phlegmatic growls and gurgles maintain tempo with twisting riffs and fast-hearth drums. The natural high quality of the vocals serves to cover the quantity of technical prowess these guys have, and with the pacing largely on the higher finish of the size, it’s straightforward to get swept up within the battering tidal wave of gore. Most significantly, the enjoyable issue was not misplaced, because the gleeful gore-philia is infectiously joyous and the music largely lives as much as the tongue-in-cheek music titles like “The Strolling Groin” and “Two Bongs Don’t Make a Proper.”
Strive as it’d, although, I can’t assist however really feel Foetal Juice has tippy-toed downward on the ‘Fuck Yeah’ scale throughout the board. This downsizing is refined. Grotesque nonetheless has all of the fury and all of the riffs, and on first hear I assumed this entry was solely on par. However the tracks do blur collectively greater than earlier than. Evaluating the verses of “Cemetary Leachate,” “The Strolling Groin” and “F.Okay.E.O.” requires stepping into the grisly particulars; on the floor, they’re virtually an identical, and such homogeneity is replicated throughout the album in several methods. Foetal Juice clearly determined to deal with the superb choruses, the place the killer riffs get probably the most room to indicate off, however the areas between are disappointingly formulaic. The manufacturing has taken on water as effectively. Regardless of no distinction in studio or producer, the wealthy grasp and scrumptious chubby bass have been changed with cardboard cutouts of the identical, choosing a way more generic sound.
It’s not a unhealthy manufacturing by any means, although. The bass nonetheless has extra presence than your common OSDM, significantly on “Mountain of Gore” and “Torn Aside,” and the combination is spot-on. Furthermore, whereas the dearth of variation is notable, there are actually outliers dotted throughout the tracklist. “Legion of the Grotesque” is the unlucky damaging exception, the place the band appears to expire of inspiration and poorly hides it behind generic chugs and too many title drops. However “Two Bongs” is a enjoyable chew-sized rager, and although nearer “Grotesque” lingers in its unusually calm intro for too lengthy, it seems to be well worth the wait. Exploding into an uncanny fury, that is the observe that subverts the joking nature of Foetal Juice and exhibits a darker aspect of the band, blowing the fuses with deep-seated anger that feels real.
I’d like to see Foetal Juice discover this route extra. “Grotesque” is the observe I got here again to probably the most, a spot of depth amidst the levity. Regardless of its flaws, Grotesque does nonetheless entertain. It has misplaced a few of the issues that made its predecessor particular, however retaining the vitality and glee ensures it’s nonetheless a strong report. However when probably the most severe-sounding observe is probably the most impactful, maybe it’s an indication the joke is beginning to present its age.
Score: 3.0/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 192 kbps mp3
Label: Gore Home Productions
Web sites: foetaljuice.bandcamp.com | fb.com/foetaljuice
Releases Worldwide: November 17th, 2023