Band:	Cannibal Corpse
Album:	Butchered At Birth
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	July 01, 1991
Guest review by:	Desecrator

01. Meat Hook Sodomy
02. Gutted
03. Living Dissection
04. Under The Rotted Flesh
05. Covered With Sores
06. Vomit The Soul
07. Butchered At Birth
08. Rancid Amputation
09. Innards Decay

I understand that "Butchered at Birth" was a very early release of the band and that at the time it was somewhat new and inventive (EBTL was already released, hence the "somewhat"), so I'll try to be as lenient as possible towards this album. But I may as well put it out in open now, I do not like it.

First, the production is crap. It sounds as if the band recorded it in their lounge room or something, I mean besides the vocals it's really not that brutal. Not only that but the bass is nonexistent. And yes I know it was released in 1991 but "Altars of Madness" was ten times better production-wise (musically too), and it was released earlier.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest I can move on to the musical side of things. I have to admit this album does have it's moments like on "Meat Hook Sodomy" and the title track; both brilliant songs that are a true definition of brutal death metal. I found, however, that the album as a whole is quite boring as it follows the same trend as the previously mentioned tracks, which gets more than a little repetitive, but thankfully there are only eight tracks, which makes it a little easier to listen to. Ultimately, though, I think it just comes down to personal preference: I myself am a fan of brutal death, but only in moderation; someone else who enjoys it day in and day out would probably have written something completely different.

Anyway, so there you have it "Butchered at Birth" a mediocre release by a band that will later establish themselves better (thanks to the addition of "Corpsegrinder"), and impose their status as one of the longest standing death metal bands to date.