Aborted
Global Flatline

I was truly disappointed by the return of Exhumed; since their gory "Anatomy is Destiny," a lot of (waste) water had passed under the bridge, and they repaid me with a clean record (which for a band that plays death/grind is not a compliment at all) and stereotypical.

However, something told me not to despair, something big was about to happen... that "something" was the EP "Coronary Reconstruction" by Aborted, which preceded by some time the bomb "Global Flatline," the seventh album of the Belgian group that ranks at the top of the brutal releases of this year's beginning. Introduced by a cover depicting a feast among zombies in faded colors, it should not deceive us, because this (s)platter is anything but colorless or undecided, if anything, it shows the impressive evolution of these executioners who transform from "new Carcass" (for detractors, clones) into simply one of the leading bands of the 2000s.

Evolution, I was saying, because if in the sick solos, occasionally slow and/or melodically classic, there are shreds of the aforementioned English group, in the swirling slowdowns, we cannot fail to notice the influence of the much-hated (by purists of the genre) deathcore, which makes it an extremely varied melting pot. The connection to the new extreme metal fringe is even more visible if among the guests we find the singers of Black Dahlia Murder, Benighted, Rotten Sound, and Misery Index, appearances that nevertheless leave the time they find, since they are not essential. The first four tracks (five, counting the intro) are frightening assaults, fast but not so much as to seem like a useless display of technique, a risk that the very skilled drummer manages to expertly avoid. Conversely, a couple of songs do not impress like the others, the sinister and infernal "Of Scabs and Boils" and "Vermicular, Obscene, Obese," which are instantly pulverized by the tense piano intro of "Expurgation Euphoria," which enters by right among the band's most beautiful pieces, making groups like Brain Drill burst into tears as they will never write a piece of such caliber.

Reflect, people, reflect: the cross-sectional nature of this album could convert many to the dark side of metal...