Rating: 7.2

Country: Netherlands

Release Date: 2003

Record Label: Goregiastic Records

Track list:
1. Mass Emission [mp3]
2. Close To Decomposing
3. Mentally Aborted
4. Rope To Tie
5. Chainsaw Caesarean
6. Corpse For The Theft
7. Human Decay
8. Impaled
9. Rotten To The Core
10. Pleasure of Molestation (Hypocrisy Cover)

Total playing time: 35:12

Band Website: Caedere

Caedere - Mass Emission

Neils - Guitar, Vocals
Michiel - Guitar
Sjoerd - Drums
Herbert - Bass

Caedere are a relatively new band from the Netherlands with only a mini CD 'Gore To Banish Fear' to their credit before their releasing their debut full length 'Mass Emission' on which they play a heavy sluggish mix of brutal and old school death metal. Their music seems to be influenced mainly by the first two Hypocrisy albums and Cannibal Corpse. I could also hear some Deeds of Flesh and Malevolent Creation type riffs with one song in particular sounding exactly like the one in their 'A Fine Art of Murder' album. To make up for their lack of originality they have provided with heaps of variations and tempo changes and have made sure that some or the other damn thing just keeps on happening in there. The songs are mainly mid-paced but they do slow during the old school parts. There are quite some attempts at blasting as well which I find similar to a fat boy running - doesn't matter how fast he tries to run but he'll always seem slow just because he's fat, you know. Also sometimes the hooks that follow thereafter appear to be more out of the inertia of the body's mass than any real effort.

Vocals too are varied with big thick growls, processed-sounding deep and guttural ones (like Sven's vocals in Aborted) and at times even snarled ones. Production is totally beefed up and heavy and makes me loose my balance when I get too close to the speakers. It does sounds a bit too crowded in there but in spite of that all the instruments are audible including the bass. I don't mind the artwork but I wish I knew what the man on it is trying to do and why is his face so burnt.

On the downside, the energy and speed of modern brutal death is missing as well as the high quality riffs, the solos (almost completely devoid of them!!!) and the feel of early death metal. Plus, because of their bulk they sound dull and sometimes tired. Listening to them even makes me feel tired and drowsy at times. They might have learnt to accept their own overweight self but I can't say the same about myself or the others. To be honest, it lacks the edge; it's quite possibly just round like I think.

Oh and they have done a fantastic cover of Hypocrisy's "Pleasure of Molestation" from their 'Osculum Obscenum' album. Excellent choice that, 'cause it also happens to be one of my all time favourite Hypocrisy songs. Needless to say, it had me clapping with glee and made me scramble to give it a higher rating than before.

Caedere need to trim down and get their priorities right. They are talented and play good music with plenty of variations but they are playing a mix which would neither satisfy "pure" fans of brutal or old school death metal. Yeah, but if you want some not so over-the-top brutal death metal that has elements of older death metal as well, this will suit you just fine.

April 30th, 2005