Cardiac Arrest - The Stench of Eternity

http://www.secret-face.com/

#FOR FANS OF: Death Old School

There are some pretty good old school death metal bands from Chicago, amongst them in the scene would be Cyanide (spelled "Cianide"), who has been somewhat inconsistent in releasing LPs over their long career & this band Cardiac Arrest (US) who has been quite consistent. They've maintained the same lineup for quite some time as well, which goes to show you that this form of entertainment (extreme death metal) they're quite serious about.

I look for specific things in critiquing extreme metal albums, mainly the music, the vocals, the recording quality & if it's a continual progression musically or about the same. On here, compared to 'The Day That Death Prevailed' (2020), it is definitely a progression musically & a more mature release on top of that. Seems that they've really blown my hair back with this one because you've got at least three different voices transpiring on a given song & the guitar riffs that are brand-new covering all under that, as well as the unrelenting aggression factor!

A lot of their earlier LPs out there don't include the lyrics. The vinyl/CDs/tapes are now beginning to include the words so it's more known that to which their brutality lies, besides just along the music. Only the last 2 LPs have featured the words. A personal favorite from frontman Adam Scott is the song "Victims of Blasphemy" (track 2 on here). I've actually found that ALL THE SONGS are my favorites. There's none that are really bland to me, seems intriguing because as much as I like their previous releases, not ALL THE SONGS were my favorites.

I did not find any holes or gaps on this LP, it is continually HEAVY, it is original sounding & it is very consistent. You can hear the guitars, the bass & drums quite well, on some of their previous LPs, especially the earlier material was good but the recording quality (despite the well composed music) was a little void. You'll hear everything on this one, it's balanced out & not overly recycled. It's quite surprising because not a lot of old school death metal bands continue to evolve. They either die-out, or they just don't evolve. CA is living on since 1997, show support for them as they continue to RAID Chicago & worldwide! Make this one a part of your collection! (Death8699)

(Hells Headbangers Records - 2024)
Score: 78

https://cardiac-arrest.bandcamp.com/album/the-stench-of-eternity

Cardiac Arrest - ...In Rotten Retrospect

http://www.secret-face.com/

#FOR FANS OF: Brutal Slam Death

A great compilation at that, which this is. Some great songs on here featuring the 4 piece on here. The music is death "rot" metal as they call it. Guitars are brutal featuring them in B-flat tuning. And the bass has a sick overdrive pedal which makes it sound even more metal. This band I've liked ever since they formed and this compilation is a conglomeration of tracks on albums of the past. Jim being a pretty strong drummer or as they called him "Grindhead." Adam been the backbone front man of the band that has only gone through a few lineup changes in their whole history starting in 1997.

This compilation clocks in a little less than 40 but it is 40 of pure ear butchery. Adam's vocals are way guttural and the guitars are way thick! That goes to show you how heavy these songs melt your eardrums. Bits and pieces from albums throughout their musical career they do these songs justice not to mention their cranking devastation. I enjoyed all of this everyone seems to contribute to the recording rather well. Multiple vocalists (David and Tom) as well as main vocals by Adam. It's dealing with their flexibility in that department. The guitars are just smashing in intensity. I believe the vocals, guitars, and drums are equally kicking ass!

The sound quality is better every recording on here it's just dynamite. The mixing did good as well they had a great line-up here I wish that it stayed with the same line-up but it is what it is. They are super awesome live as well! Anyway, some of my favorite tracks are on here ("Carnage Your Fate", etc.). Some of the guitar guitarwork on here throughout they did these songs justice. I couldn't ask for a better compilation for $12. Definitely worth it! You won't be able to download this one streamers! You have to buy the CD, to my knowledge anyway. It's worth it though, ABSOLUTELY! This one is a keeper through the whole thing!

In retrospect, everything was done with precision impeccable onslaught. This is death metal that is in no way relenting, it's totally unrelenting! These guys put it altogether and ousted their competition. With the death "rot" metal and great track listing for a sizeable seizing of guitar/vocals in your face! Everything on here is a highlight and nothing is less than extraordinary. These guys know how to put together some great death metal and play all so well. I still wish Jim was in the band but it is what it is This compilation CD is everything people should hope for it to be. It's totally awesome! Get the CD now! (Death8699)

(Severed Records - 2021)
Score: 80

https://sevared.bandcamp.com/album/in-rotten-retrospect

Cardiac Arrest - The Day That Death Prevailed

http://www.secret-face.com/

#FOR FANS OF: Death/Black

Another great contribution by the WHOLE band! Everyone worked greatly to making this an outstanding one for 2020. The vocals fluctuate which makes it more diverse and dynamic of an album. It's surprisingly shorter than most of their LP's (if not all). That doesn't take away from their contribution to metal here. This is all in all pure death/rot. The guitars are still in B-flat so there's still that "chunkiness" to the songs. Tempos vary a lot here which is cool. And the leads were shriek-ingly intense. Technical, but loud! It seemed like they had a lot of ideas here to bring for to stage. And the riffs were really groove laden. It's definitely experimental album in that sense it's atypical CA.

I've found some really interesting tracks to be "Naegeric Outbreak" and "A Call For Violence." But I've located all the tracks to be pretty good, so I'd recommend these first to check out on YouTube. This album is available on Bandcamp or Spotify, a lot of the tracks are also on YouTube. I've found the whole album on Spotify, but I'm to get a physical CD of the album when they're available. It always sounds better through my speakers than my iPhone. I prefer CD over digital and the fact that you're supporting the band. I think ever since the beginning of CA, they've always stayed true to their roots. They've stayed death/rot metal and continue to stay.

The overwhelming variety in the music makes this to be one of their best. I really admire the riffs and the different tempo changes throughout the album. Adam knows how to write some killer riffs. Always a bad ass in the guitar department. It's been a great experience to know some of these guys in different preferences of musical tastes. The production quality is raw-like in respect to how the overall sound is. The mixing was done well too and everything sounds good in that respect. It's always great to hear interesting metal. This is one of my favorite CA albums (by far) though I just had wished that it was a bit longer. That's alright though. It's still a great listen to!

Show the band some support on Bandcamp getting the digital music or when the CD's become readily available, purchase them. Keep the spirit of the pure death/rot metal. Another album done and these guys totally nailed it. I totally respect the band and what they put out musically to the metal community. And being a native Chicagoland band puts them in the ranks of top notch to this day. Having heard bands like Cianide, Blood of the Wolf, and Everdying I've had to just say that they're the ones who've dished out the most recordings and consistently. If Cianide were able to put out more music, they'd be among the top ranked in Chicago. CA is among them. Buy their music! (Death8699)

(Boris Records - 2020)
Score: 82

https://borisrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-day-that-death-prevailed