Contaminated – Celebratory Beheading (Regal Beast Metal)

 

Uh oh, MF Contaminated is back! I remembered the name from the memories of the hulking beast cover on a previous album, and yet again I was struck by their utilization of catchy artwork, which in this case is a simple shot from the film La Reine Margot (1994). Effective. But, at any rate, do you want to feel beast? Because Contaminated brings that beast metal. I’m familiar enough with these cretins to gauge their current work, but how does it compare to earlier stuff? That’s always a question, isn’t it? Previously, I was a huge fan of their apex-predator full-length Final Man. Since then they’ve appeared on only two splits, and this, Celebratory Beheading, is their latest flex.

   

If there is one thing I could say about it, which was initially a complaint, is this time Contaminated are more decontaminated than they might realize; more morphed with their surroundings and stepping back the dominance slightly. At first, to be honest, this irritated me, as I want that beast. However, repeated listens prove why one shouldn’t simply compare earlier work to current, but should rather look at it as it is (unless therein lies a super drastic difference). Contaminated deal out impressively vibrant riffs and the vocals are more discernible than before, yet still asserting authority. This is when I got it. The beast is there, but now instead of the hulking, prehistoric form pulling itself from extinction ooze, its cleaned itself off and asserted its dominance over the lesser beast beings vying for control of the death metal underground. Its regal in its beast. Well-played, you cretins.

 

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Written by Stanley, Devourer of Souls

Contaminated – Celebratory Beheading
Blood Harvest
Cover Art: Band
4.7 / 5