How is it even remotely possible that these Spanish ne’er do wells have been in the very metal game since 1991? To invite groans from our readership, the only traces of rot to be found here are in the lyrical content. Throughout their long career, they’ve always been in the premier league of Carcass inspired death metal bands, and that’s still the case with this release.
So yes, it’s fair to say that if you’re a fan of Carcass circa “Symphonies of Sickness”, then you’re going to be in clover here. To say that Haemorrhage wear their influences on their sleeve might be an obvious thing to say, given that they’re one of the first bands to really cement what the goregrind aesthetic actually is, but it’s also true to say that they are showing more of their other influences than ever before on this one. It’s also a bit of a goregrind love-in, with guest appearances from Ross Sewage (Impaled), Sean McGrath (Exhumed), Digestor and Cremator from the brilliant Ghoul, Noel Kemper (Gruesome Stuff Relish) and the welcome appearance of Carlo Regardas (Monstrance and ex-Carcass/Blackstar) among the others.
With fourteen tracks taking a little under fourty minutes of your time, Haemorrhage aren’t hanging about with their music. This are extremely groove-laden slices of prime death metal that rattle by at a tremendous pace. As has always been their way, Haemorrhage are experts in managing to marry the sonic ferocity of goregrind with the knack of writing memorable, interesting tunes. The nods to the influences, whether in the punk-gone-death-metal bombast of “Transporting Cadavers”, or the none-more Carcass of “Medical Maniacs” are all really well done, and they’re guaranteed to bring a smile to your face even as you bang your head. Most tracks are over and done in about two to three minutes, and they manage to pack a lot into those meagre times.
“We are the Gore” is about as infectious an album of this nature that I’ve heard in many years. Like a disease, it does get completely under your skin. I’ve been a long time admirer of Haemorrhage, but I really think they’ve hit their artistic stride with this platter. The song writing is spot on, easily equalling anything that other bands from their sub-genre have produced. While it would easy to say that this has come from the injection of a new drummer into the mix, that isn’t the whole story – though it does play a big part of it. The chops shown by Erik Raya within the space of “Miss Phlebotomy” are worth the price of admission themselves. The production is also wonderful, with really clear and powerful axe work without being at the mercy of what could have been (and occasionally has been) muddy bass sound.
“We are the Gore” does exactly what it says – it stakes the claim that Haemorrhage are now the best goregrind band in the world. I have to agree. Brilliant.
(9/10 Chris Davison)
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