Decapitated: Carnival is Forever

Seeing as how this is Decapitated 2.0, I don't feel bad for not having heard Organic Hallucinosis. With that said I'm very excited to have acquired a new batch of Decapitated songs. Carnival is Forever is the band's post Vitek offering, as it might as well be post-'anything resembling the original lineup'. Much like Vader, it has become sole original member Vogg's one man show with all brand new faces (hopefully not the first of a rotating door of hired guns). Fortunately, like Vader, Vogg has maintained a consistency in the bands sound. So while tere are a bunch of new faces, it still sounds like Decapitated.

The album's opener, 'The Knife', has an angular, Meshuggah circa Chaosphere feel. Think the more thrashy parts from The Negotiation, just more jagged. It shows Vogg's desire to try something new but stay within some kind of familiar boundary. Nonetheless it's a welcome opener.

Any doubt fans would have about new drummer, Krimh, should rest easy. While the new guy brings a slightly more straight ahead style, Vogg's song writing prowess keeps him in check. Much like Les Claypool, you can't play around Vogg. He forces you to react to his axe shredding without cutting corners. You have to keep up with him, you have no choice.

'Homo Sum' comes as the first real standout track as the band dives into more melodic waters while trying to somewhat recreated a rhythm pattern similar to 'Spheres of Madness'. 'View From a Hole' showcases the bands more blatant attempts with spacey/prog parts, but promptly pulls you back into the pummeling death.

The album's closer, 'Silence', serves as a calm from the ensuing madness. An homage to Vogg's fallen bandmate. Very touching, a bit out of place, but a good song for closure.

Vocalist Rafal Piotrowski seems to stand out the most as he does not possess a traditional growl but a more Piotr Wiwczarek/Vader rasp that, when played over the music, almost changes to outcome of the music. While not horrible, the vocals are a slight deterrent to the music's higher caliber.

Overall Decapitated's return is a relative success. While Vogg and crew seem to play it safe with the new ideas, it could suggest new sounds to come.