Cattle Decapitation - The Harvest Floor

It's true, Cattle Decapitation are another one of those grindcore bands who are getting out a message which you wouldn't usually expect from a bunch of metalheads. In the same way Napalm Death fight for freedom from racism, sexism etc, Cattle Decapitation are militant vegetarians, which at first sounds pretty stupid. Vegetarian grindcore? You won't be laughing by the end of this.

While I would describe most of Decapitation's earlier stuff fairly ordinary grind, albeit with an unusual message (wishing the acts of cruelty we perform to animals to be done on humans), this really brings a new sound to their music. The use of melodic, high pitched wailing, piano interludes and violin harmony brings a sense of sadness, irony and retribution to the obvious morbid themes, and it's incredible how this works with one of the heaviest genres out there.

This isn't overcooked so still expect the usual incredible vocal range from the gullet of Travis Ryan, backed up by guitarist Josh Elmore who now uses his skill with the axe to a greater, more noticeable level.

So if you liked Cattle Decapitation, you should like this unless you're an absolute 'no melody' purist, but I would recommend this even more for people trying to get into grindcore coming from a background of more melodic metal. Though don't expect to be meat-free for life after listening... mmm, bacon...