CoC : Failed Humanity - The Sound of Razors Through Flesh : Review

Failed Humanity - _The Sound of Razors Through Flesh_
(Candlelight, 2001)
by: Paul Schwarz (7 out of 10)

Seven years after forming, Failed Humanity now feel they have a totally stable line-up, and have got their debut album out. It's pleasant to find that the time has not been spent entirely in vain; _TSoRTF_ is both chaotic and brutal, and is even backed by a production which balances pulsating percussion-work and ugly, chugging guitars. With the popularity of grinding death metal currently blossoming in continental Europe -- and looking to reach the kind of level it has enjoyed in the US for many years now -- Failed Humanity may find some fans in today's extreme music scene despite the fact that they fail to significantly define themselves as apart from "the pack" on any creative plane. Unless you're very much uninitiated to "grinding death metal" as a musical "style", nothing here will be likely to grab your attention; _The Sound of Razors Through Flesh_ will likely simply pass you by. Failed Humanity are marginally more proficient with their instruments than the death/grind average these days -- and though this may give them some edge in the future, they cannot yet even hope to challenge the likes of Nasum, Cephallic Carnage or Assuck; I wouldn't bet on Failed Humanity ever making an album that will define them individually on the death/grind map.

(article published 12/8/2001)