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By RYAN MAVITY
Since we’ve had the answer to that often wondered question “What is it like to be Ozzy’s kid?” I do believe we now need a reality show that follows Six Feet Under frontman Chris Barnes around. Barnes, of course, is the former vocalist for extreme metal legends Cannibal Corpse and has been leading his second band, Six Feet Under, which started as a side project, for 12 prolific years.
I mention that cameras should follow Barnes around because for almost 20 years the man has been putting out albums based on three things: murder, death and kills, usually in that order. I wonder what he does in his spare time? What are his hobbies? If he has kids or a spouse, how do they view his career? I’m dying to know what it’s like to be the child of the man responsible for lyrics like “I open your chest/I smash in your skull” on the violent headbanger “The Edge of the Hatchet.”
As you can see, Barnes loves gore and lots of it. Then again, if you were looking for subtlety you’re barking up the wrong tree, after all this is a Six Feet Under album. The band doesn’t deviate much from the script, but that’s part of their appeal. SFU promise violent heavy death metal and Commandment delivers. Barnes is front and center with his gravelly death growl mixed in with the occasional high-pitched (and somewhat disturbing) shriek. The band, led by ex-Massacre guitarist Steve Swanson, compliments Barnes by providing the pounding soundtrack to the singer’s disturbing lyrics. The best songs on Commandment are the thrashier tracks like “Thou Shall Kill,” “The Edge of the Hatchet” and the best tracks on the album, “Resurrection of the Rotten” and “As the Blade Turns.” The slower tracks like “Bled To Death” and “Doomsday” don’t quite work. The best Six Feet Under songs are the ones where the band builds up a pounding momentum. The slower tracks aren’t able to do that.
SFU is one of metal’s most divisive bands; their fans love them, while others feel like the band’s work has gotten worse over the years. Still, it’s hard to deny that these guys can crank out some kickass metal jams. Sure, Barnes’s lyrical content gets a little stale after a while (how many songs can you have about murdering someone?). But still, Commandment does exactly what has made SFU one of death metal’s more successful bands. Anyone who doesn’t like SFU isn’t likely to change after hearing Commandment, and those who love the band will get more of what they like about them. Now we just need to have the cameras follow Barnes as he takes out the trash.
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