Impaled
Death After Life
Century Media Records

It's been 3 years since Impaled's last album, Mondo Medicale,  decimated the earth, spreading a virulent plague across the planet.  If you were fortunate enough to survive that outbreak,   start looking for another antidote...and quick! Just what exactly have they been doing all this time?  Apparently spending
countless hours experimenting and torturing unsuspecting patients at St. Juliens Hospital! For those unfamiliar, Impaled is clumped, somewhat unfairly, into the "goregrind" sub genre of death metal.  Yes their lyrics are gross, and sometimes you'll need Gray's Anatomy to decipher just what the hell they're talking about, but the music is far removed from the stop-start monotony of your typical grind band.

First off,  there are recognizable songs!  Sorry, no riff-collage,  "look how fast I can play" bullocks here (not that there's anything wrong with that...). The tunes rock out with a catchiness not unlike early (and better) Megadeth.  Songs like "Critical Condition" would have Dave Mustaine nervously nawing his fingernails, oh except for the fact that he's rich and
doesn't need to write good songs anymore! (The World Needs A Hero?? ...sorry, just cleaning a little fresh vomit off my Stainmaster rug).  There's a big thrash influence going on here,  so those of the denim jacket-Hirax patch variety will feel right at home. The production of Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle/Secret Chiefs (who bleepin' RULE!) is deceptively complex.  On the first listen, I was amazed at how different  it sounds from your run of the mill death metal album.  Praise Jesus! Hallelujah! No drum triggers!  Listen to Led Zeppelins "Physical Graffiti" and you'll get an idea of the drum sound.  Hey, it sounds like an actual drumkit in an actual room - what a novel idea! In fact it sounds like a real band really playing together!  These are definite no-no's in the death metal genre, so I'm sure they getting their share of flak for it.  I happen to really like the sound, because  it's so different.

This album grow's with each listen.  Subtle things like layered string sections,  doubled guitars accentuating certain phrases, and strange analog synth sounds may elude you on the initial listen.  It's through several passes that I realized a lot of time went into the songwriting process as well as the production.  The playing is precise without sounding meticulous. I hate to use these words, but "mature" and "professional" both come to mind.  (pause...oh God,  just puked again, this time at my own lame writing. Hey Stainmaster really works!) Drummer Raul Varela keeps things simple. He maintains a steady pace, yet is inventive enough to not sound drab.  The vocals of Ross Sewage are more hideous than ever,  sounding like he just sucked on the leaded exhaust pipe of a beat up AMC Gremlin!  You can almost feel  the cancerous phlegm projecting from his decimated larynx. With Death After Life,  Impaled has delivered an wonderfully distinct album.

If you're expecting brutal death metal or garden variety goregrind,  go shop at Unique Leader or Relapse.  Impaled has transcended the death metal genre, unafraid of the possible repercussions.   It's funny to remember when Impaled were just getting started. They would drunkenly stumble around the stage,  seemingly bewildered with their instruments.  Needless to say, they were nothing short of a train wreck!  Impaled is older, wiser, and much more proficient at their craft.  Buy this, and prepare to have your mind expanded! -- Andrew Andermatt