The band that seems to have a never ending list of albums, Six Feet Under release music video for The Rotting off their latest album Nightmares of the Decomposed. If you want the short take, make sure the kids are out the room before pressing play!
Nightmares of the Decomposed was released back in October 2020. I never managed to review this album – this site was still in its infancy at the time, but to be blunt I was frustrated with it.
Six Feet Under, if you were unaware, are the side project of vocalist Chris Barnes, which became is full time band after being booted from Cannibal Corpse back in 1995. They have released 17 (yes 17!) full length albums now. Being one of North America’s greatest selling death metal bands in the process.
Following the sludgy, groove inspired variant of death metal, Six Feet Under have a variation in quality across their catalogue. Honestly I find most of their albums rather forgettable. Some are very good however, such as 2008’s Death Rituals.
Nightmares of the Decomposed however, is both excellent and terrible simultaneously. The underlying groove to the album, plus the guitar work is mostly excellent. Plenty of excellent doomy death metal riffs. The big problem however is the vocals.
Chris Barnes has a unique vocal style, to say the least. It’s been very hit and miss throughout his entire career. With Cannibal Corpse, Tomb of the Mutilated and Butchered and Birth are legendary for his guttural vocals. However the best he has sounded came on Cannibal Corpse album The Bleeding, and on Torture Killer’s Swarm! album (who Barnes temporarily joined). The ‘cleaner’ guttural vocals on these albums are exemplary.
On Nightmares of the Decomposed however, the vocals sound like someone is strangling Barnes to death throughout. Not in the typical sexy black metal way, but in a very bad way. It unfortunately ruins what otherwise could be a pretty good album. A shame. Hopefully Barnes can still get back to his best!
Nightmares of the Decomposed can be purchased from Metal Blade Records.
Link below for The Rotting video release. At least you know the video is going to be good when YouTube won’t post a thumbnail here!
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