Band:	Carnivore
Album:	Retaliation
Style:	Punk, Hardcore, Crossover thrash metal
Release date:	September 1987

01. Jack Daniels And Pizza
02. Angry Neurotic Catholics
03. S.M.D.
04. Race War
05. Ground Zero Brooklyn
06. Inner Conflict
07. Jesus Hitler
08. Technophobia
09. Manic Depression [Jimi Hendrix cover]
10. U.S.A. For U.S.A.
11. Five Billion Dead
12. Sex And Violence
13. World Wars III And IV [demo]
14. Carnivore [demo]
15. The Subhuman [demo]

If you are interested in what the whole fuss about NY hardcore was, you should check this album out. If you are wondering why Type 0 Negative still attracts thousands of hardcore punks to their concerts, even though they are now goth, you should also check out this album. Finally, if you feel like fucking destroying the whole world around you - CHECK THIS ALBUM OUT!

Carnivore is Peter Steele's first band. If you are familiar with Type 0 Negative's first album - "Slow, Deep and Hard" then you will have a pretty good idea of what Carnivore is like, as long as you multiply this idea of yours by 10...

Carnivore/Retaliation is actually a compilation of the band's best songs; however, seeing as the band only recorded two albums (Carnivore in 1986 and Retaliation in 1987), this track list is pretty much all that you need to hear from them. Basically, its the two Carnivore albums minus the filler. The album starts, fittingly enough, with the sound of someone puking "Jack Daniels and Pizza". After such a rude opening, nothing could really surprise us, right? Wrong! Carnivore's lyrics are shocking to say the least, even by todays standards. "S.M.D." stands for "Suck My Dick"; "Jesus Hitler" compares the two figures and sums it up with a "Reich and Roll"; in "Sex and Violence" Pete shares with us such wisdom as "If you cant eat it or fuck it then KILL IT"; "Predator" features the wonderful line "I detect the scent of prey by/her menstruation/you have been chosen as the main course/Congratulations!" etc.

Due to lyrics like these Carnivore became extremely infamous and now hold a cult status (they were also wrongly accused of being neo-nazi which eventually led to the band's demise). The music is as unrelenting as the lyrics. The band mixes hardcore riffs with thrash metal drumming which results in a sound which inherits the heaviness from metal and the energy of punk. Its comparable to what S.O.D. were doing, although heavier. Although most of these tracks are pretty straight-forward aggressive punk, there are some highlights which allow for some quality song writing to shine through. Most notably, "Male Supremacy" and "World Wars III and IV" are great thrash tracks by any standards. Those familiar with Pete Steele's current output as a vocalist are in for a big surprise - here he rarely ever uses his trademark vampire moan, instead going for a huge, deathly roar (vaguely reminiscent of Cronos). Too bad he doesn't sing like that anymore (he does on concerts actually, but that's not the same)...

All of what I have described above sums up to make a perfect soundtrack to your apocalypse. This is the sort of stuff that you kill to in the mosh pit. If you aren't into excessively violent and shocking lyrics and bombastic music - stay away. However, if you are feeling a bit retro and really pissed off - Carnivore is probably for you.