Rating: 6.5

Country: Czech Republic

Release Date: 2004

Track list:
1. Frankenstain´s Fare
2. Pills Of Suffering
3. Why?
4. I Suffocate
5. Requiem....
6. Body Count/Bhopal Massacre
[MP3]
7. End Of Gia
8. Black Stain (Sea Of Blood)
9. Parasites

Total playing time: 30:23

Band Website: Smashed Face

Smashed Face - Human: Earth Parasite

Fred - Vocals
Pavel - Drums
P.A.T.- Guitars
Eda - Bass

Here you've got your typical contemporary Czech band attempting to play technical brutal death metal influenced by the clones of Cannibal Corpse and Suffocation, the Czech band in this case sounding somewhere between a less flamboyant Intervalle Bizarre and a tamer Alienation Mental. But where their US counterparts succumb to their boring sluggish bw00tality, these guys with their vitality and finesse manage to pull it off, and with style - you see, there is a difference when Czech bands are concerned. From the insane (but not nearly as insane) Alienation Mental-esque blasting, to the precise Intervalle Bizarre type technical parts and even US death metal style chugs and breakdowns, these guys have timed and executed it masterfully. The industrial sounds present in the album sound very similar to the ones on Alienation Mental's 'Ball Spouter' album. These guys seem to have a fair idea of when to alter the speed, change the tempos and unleash that much-desired breakdown at the right bloody moment. They have mixed and balanced it all quite well I must say. However what's sorely lacking is the originality or innovation of some sort. The material is good, it's not that, but lets have a look at their country mates for instance: Alienation Mental effortlessly beats them at speed, Intervalle Bizarre and Fleshless at technicality, Contrastic and !T.O.O.H! at originality, Ahumado Granujo and Negligent Collateral Collapse at innovation, etc., you get the drift. So comparatively, they are just stranded somewhere in the middle playing good music but nothing special or outstanding which would command your attention.

The vocals comprising mainly of deep grunts along with some Pigsty style high pitched squeals are commendable. Like most Czech releases, the production is decent and allows all the instruments to be distinctly heard and while they have a crisp, crunchy sound to it, the sound is a tad thin for my liking. As the album name suggests, the lyrics are about how humans fuck up the world and one song in particular ("Bhopal Gas Massacre") caught my attention as that disaster took place at not too far from where I come from. The CD comes with a never ending interactive section where you'll find not only their full 8 song 2002 demo, but also with so many photos that even an ignorant fool could write a detailed biography of this band looking at them. There are also some (or many) rather shitty quality live videos in which after the song ends one gets to see interesting things like someone's boobies, a Czech brawl, etc. There might be more such interesting things in there but I didn't have the time or patience to sit my ass through the entire thing. But this type of stuff is ideal for someone having very few CDs in his collection.

Smashed Face have proven their talent and ability on this album and it makes up for a fairly enjoyable listen but I hope on their next album they attempt to play something original or unique or else it shall soon be forgotten. Still, better this than your standard American brutal death metal band.

April 11th, 2005