WARNING! If you are easily grossed out by mutilation of organisms or
are morally correct, do not read this album review any further.
If you are reading this line, that means you have enough tolerance to
move forward. A few things to know about Portugal's entry into the
gore-grind metal scene Holocausto Canibal: their lyrics are entirely in
Portugese and their themes of sexual exploitation and genital mutilation
will challenge even those with iron stomachs. Needless to say, they
succeed at least in the grossing out factor.
Holocaust Canibal's new album Opus Genitalia is eighteen tracks of pure
gore-grind suitable for those who can truly take even the most
disgusting scenes of violence. With song titles translated from Portugese,
some titles include "Anal Punishment," Corprophagic Scatophagic Fondue,"
and Uterine Origami-How to Remove an Utero Through the Esophagus," even
the most hardened of people will have a hard time keeping their lunch,
let alone try and saying the song titles three times fast. All that
said, the music seems to be second on the importance for the band and
except for the vocals, it doesn't do too badly. Most of the songs open
with samples from either perverse sex education videos or exploitation
films, which really are the only indicators of what track is playing.
The vocals are largely unintelligible and sung in Portugese, which is
actually a good thing, considering the subject matter. The vocals also
seem to benefit in that even if they were done in English, the vocals
would have probably still been unintelligible. Tongue-twisting,
disgusting song titles aside, tracks fifteen through seventeen really shouldn't
have been inserted on the album, as it disrupts the consistency in
which the brutality is delivered. The said tracks are basically the same
except for unexplainable audio problems and an Electronic ambience. The
last track begins with a two minute silence and then goes into the
usual blast of gore and grind to end the album on a tolerable note.
Holocausto Canibal, like almost every gore-grind metal band, is
definitely not for everyone. If you're not easily disgusted by the song
titles and you somehow get past them, then the music is actually fairly
standard fare with no real problems other than the vocals. Opus Genitalia
should come with a warning label and a contract that will not hold the
band responsible for any medical problems caused by listening to the
album. Other than that, it's worthy of being a soundtrack to an
Exploitation film.
