So here’s arguably the first “big name” death metal release of 2007 from Belgium’s Carcass worshippers, Aborted who really raised some eyebrows with 2005 chugfest, The Archaic Abbatoir. However, line-up issues may have finally caught up with the Sven de Caluwe and his cronies.First up, I should emphasize, Slaughter & Apparatus is a damn good death metal album, but to these overly critical ears, takes a bit of a step back from The Archaic Abbatoir. The reason I think is Dave Haley (Psycroptic, The Amenta) who recorded the drums for this album. Not that Sven and Co allow the drummer to dictate the material, but Haley’s more technical style seems to make the album slightly less groovier and chunkier. Though I’m sure I’m wrong, Slaughter & Apparatus seems far faster and singularly paced or maybe it’s just the grooves seem less hefty due to what appears to be a slightly cleaner, leaner production.

Of course, those that enjoy, faster and harder will be please by the band’s condensed and tighter sound. The downside is that of the 11 tracks, none really standout. The other downside to me is now Sven’s dual vocals; the deep growl is fine but sterile, but the robotic mid range yell/scream sounds more in line with a less extreme thrash or cyber metal record. Even guest vocal appearances by Jeff Walker (Carcass), Jacob Bredahl & Henrik Jacobsen (Hatesphere) fail to make the vocals sound less clinical.

That being said, all 11 tracks are intense as fuck and make for a blistering 42 minutes. “And Carnage Basked In Its Ebullience” has some haunting synths, while solos make “The Foul Nucleus of Resurrection” more interesting and “Archetype” and “An Odious Emanation” finally delivers the groove I was hoping for, but to be completely honest with you, I can’t recall too many of the other tracks, especially from the album’s torrid first half. Still, I can’t help but reach for The County Medical Examiners’ Olidous Operettas first when I’m in the mood for some pure Carcass worship.

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