Do-gooders do good - A review of Cattle Decapitation's Death Atlas

Cattle Decapitation were once a rather exchangeable grindcore band but the quintet has now become the most interesting progressive death metal band in the world. 

Death Atlas doesn't only convince with energetic growls, fierce guitar riffs and speedy rhythm section. It comes around with technically appealing guitar solos, riffs that actually slow things down to enhance a dystopian atmosphere as well as sorrowful vocals that meander from thrash metal inspirations to black metal outbursts. The record features three instrumental tunes plus a fourth song that is almost entirely instrumental as well as an epic coda in the masterful titular album closer that underline the band's intellectual ambitions. The hauntingly dystopian lyrics about global warming and the horrors mankind commits against its own planet are on the pulse of time and have an inspiring message. 

The song ''Death Atlas'' is the one to be recommended to verify whether you appreciate the intellectual mixture of progressive death metal and dystopian instrumental soundscapes. This detailed track clocks in at more than nine minutes and deserves to be discovered time and again. It's the climax to an excellent release in its first half and the atmospheric coda offers falling action and resolution in the second half.

The only forgettable song is ''The Geocide'' that values aggression over atmosphere and doesn't really blend in with the other tunes. It's not a bad song and will certainly please fans of bands such as Morbid Angel. However, the song is simply stated too traditional to fit on this ambitious record.

In the end, any fan of atmospheric and progressive extreme metal should give Cattle Decapitation's Death Atlas a chance. If you are fighting for animal rights, against climate change and support proactive politics, you must also listen to what might be this year's best extreme metal record. Many people will end up being positively surprised that a truly intellectual message hides behind the sinister reputation of this band and its genre.

Final rating: 90%