CONFORMING TO ABNORMALTY

"Conforming to Abnormality" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Colorado based technical deathgrind/death metal act Cephalic Carnage. The album was released through Head[%*!#]er Records in 1998. The original version of the album features 8 tracks (and a total playing time of 26:15 minutes), while the 2008 Earache Records reissue features no less than 20 bonus tracks. Cephalic Carnage formed in 1992 and released three demos and a split with Deprayved, before releasing "Conforming to Abnormality".

The album features a technical deathgrind style which in nature is relatively varied and eclectic. It´s extreme alright, but Cephalic Carnage are obviously incredibly skilled musicians, and even the most regular blasting grindcore parts are pretty sophisticated and technically well played. The tracks often change pace and feature breakdowns, dissonance, and at times some almost avant-garde sounding experiments. The tracks can feel a bit incoherent, as if the band throw all sorts of riffs and rhythm changes at the listener with no regard for song structures or hooks, but it´s pretty surely a deliberate songwriting approach, meant to keep the listener on his/her toes... and it works.

The vocals are varied and ranges from high pitched screaming, to aggressive growling, to unintelligible effect laden growling, to all sorts of other extreme metal vocal styles. Often layered and contantly shifting, which suits the constantly shifting beats and riff styles of the instrumental part of the music well. Other than a few shorter tracks, all tracks on the album are regular length compositions (3-5 minutes). "Conforming to Abnormality" is arguably a different take on the deathgrind sound, and Cephalic Carnage instantly set out to challenge conventions. Wether you find this constantly shifting technical deathgrind style rewarding or have a hard time appreciated it, it´s arguably both well performed and well produced, and to my ears Cephalic Carnage are on to a great start with this release, although they would get better with time. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives).