Goatwhore

With this latest effort, Goatwhore have taken on a new approach to their blackened death metal ways. Carving Out the Eyes of God is the follow-up to 2006's A Haunting Curse and it seems that working with producer Erik Rutan of Mana Recording Studios and having the record mastered by Alan Douches of West West Side has steered the New Orleans, LA band towards a much more thrashy, Sodom-influenced direction. Opener "Apocalyptic Havoc" sets the tone for the rest of the album of blazing riffs, punk attitude and black metal's signature Satan-praising lyrical themes. Sammy Duet's guitar work is definitely the star of the show throughout and although he keeps it simple with a traditional thrash-flavoured style it's fast, heavy and contains more ferocity than ever. However, Goatwhore haven't changed so much as to lose their severely dark, Bathory-inspired black metal sound, which is sure to please old fans.