After the slamaissance of 2023 which brought us genre-blended success from Afterbirth and Wormhole,1 the prospect of slam bringing the same kind of heat in 2024 felt hopeful, but as an enjoyer of the hammer-dropping arts, I remain ever so. You see, sometimes a name and cover say it all, and in a genre like slam, those kinds of gaudy statements may be the most worthwhile attributes of the sonic whole. So when I saw festering in our full and plump sump the name Mutilation Barbecue2 and the fanciful display of human consumption that adorns their debut full-length Amalgamations of Gore, I slapped my name on it with equal parts wonder and fear. With just only two brief EPs to their name, these Ohio death boys hadn’t yet had the chance to stand out amongst the Maggot Stomp roster of similarly visualized and slamming acts, but with grilling officially in season, can Mutilation Barbecue wear the tag of pit kings proudly?
Turns out, while Amalgamations of Gore definitely has slams (“Auto Anthropophagy,” “Trampled Under 18 Wheels”) and dumb slamples (1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers on “Xenomorphic Organ Rearrangement,” among others), most of this just over Reign in Blood-length smattering avoids falling too heavily into the most soul-sucking tropes of throw-away chugdown acts. Much of that eschewing of predictable tropes rests on the truth that Amalgamations is simply not a slam album, at least not first. Instead, Mutilation Barbecue plays a hardcore flavored, multi-influence brand of modern, 90s-toned death metal. In their frenetic riff tumbles and somewhat heroic leadwork, this young act comes off more like the persistent cut of an early Exhumed than other contemporary goremeisters like 200 Stab Wounds or Fulci. That difference goes a long way.
Despite nothing truly unpredictable happening throughout the whammy-addled and throaty run that Amalgamations spurts, its particular blend of sounds never feels tired. Well, it almost does with the built-for-stage slow build of the “Amalgamations of Gore/Skin Display,” but once that breaks away into its vocal-driven movement, Mutilation Barbecue can’t help but show a grooving swagger amongst its shredded barks and brain-rattling snare clang. And later, seeing this same kind of groove work amongst sneaky lead breaks, pinch harmonic flair, and foot-shuffling hardcore patterns, songs like “Abortion Ambulance” and “Trampled Under 18 Wheels” possess the manic energy of Acid Bath ripping through brutal death motions. I wouldn’t suggest that these spry buckeyes take little influence from death metal—a number of riffs ring tried and true to the tattered tremolo and trudge of bands like Skinless and others of that ilk—but there’s just a little extra under the hood.
Though, where enjoyment of Amalgamations can fly a bit off the rails is in its less-than-stellar production. I don’t expect death metal in this vein to be wildly dynamic, and at its lower DR value, the mix still has good placement of sounds and the kick has less clack than punch. Seasoned engineer of scuzzy acts Will Killingsworth provides a crusted warmth to this lively collection. However, volume-boosted leads and pinches collide against bright and sibilant crashes can cause momentary crackles that push beyond the acceptably crunchy live-action sound that Mutilation Barbecue chases. Were Amalgamations any longer or with more temporary breaks in tempo like “Carcass Compost,” these searing sounds could present a major issue.
As it stands, Mutilation Barbecue has left a greater mark on my memory than I would have assumed at a passing glance. Amalgamations of Gore does just about everything right that a scrappy death metal act could do in this saturated market. Alongside neighbors-in-state Abraded, Mutilation Barbecue fills a gap in pit-fiending Cleveland metro—the Midwest deserves to mosh too! Time will tell whether this troupe evolves in a matter that reflects their wild spirit rather than traveling down the underwhelming path of associates-in-grime 200 Stab Wounds or Sanguisugabogg.3 For now, keep an eye out for a show near you—these riffs have kick.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Maggot Stomp | Bandcamp4
Websites: mutilationbarbecue.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/mutilationbarbecue
Releases Worldwide: March 29th, 2024
