Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Impaled - The Last Gasp Review

Originally posted on Blistering.com circa 2008.


Imagine putting Symphonies of Sickness, Necroticism and Heartwork by Carcass into a car crusher together and that sound is Impaled. Having a lot to live up to since the excellent Death After Life (2005), the Californians have managed to use these influences with a sprinkle of Slaughter of the Soul to create something dangerous and alive. This recipe has spawned a groove-ridden goretastic riff-fest that uses its Carcass influences well to create something altogether original.

Okay, step one. Banned artwork featuring blindfolded victim with entire collection internal organs piled up having being removed via the mouth. Check. Stage two? Military/medical aesthetics. Check. Stage three. Song titles including gory puns on everyday phrases? See “Sickness is Health” “Torture of Duty” and “All Gut, No Glory” (the latter of which has an unbelievably awesome down tempo gore-groove). Stage four? Sickness, epidemic, gory results and military medical experiments. Check!

The duration of this album has lots of gruesome leads, heavy chugging and appropriate blasting make a salacious concoction. Some of the grind has been replaced with thrashier riffs and some bluesy licks a la Amott’s work on Heartwork. It is a true show of stamina resolve and ingenuity that Impaled have made four heavily Carcass influenced albums and keeping each one independent and robust.

The Last Gasp strikes gold with every track, equalling the achievements of last album, 2005’s Death After Life. Each and every song bores its way into your head and they will refuse to leave. Impaled have just reiterated why their discography is so highly revered, and if you want my advice, try to catch them on tour with Origin in the U.K. for an unmissable show. (Tom – only applies now if you have a time machine!)

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