Six Feet Under was formed back in 1993 by Chris Barnes (Vocals) of Cannibal Corpse, Allen West (Guitar) of Obituary, Terry Butler (Bass) of Death and Greg Hall (Drums). The band didn't become a full-time band until Chris Barnes left Cannibal Corpse in 1995. Same year they debuted with the album "Haunted". The release was followed by the EP "Alive And Dead" in 1996.
In 1997 the album "Warpath" was released and it gained the band more succes than ever. However, after the release Allen West left the band and was replaced by Steve Swanson of Massacre. Matt Cohen (Guitar) also joined the band for a short peroid of time. In 1999 they returned with the album "Maximum Violence" which was their most successful release to date. They then embarked on tours and in 2000 they returned to the studio to record "Graveyard Classics" which only consisted of classic metal covers.
In 2001 they were back with the album "True Carnage" which had Karyn Crisis, Paul Booth and Ice-T as guest vocalist. In 2003 "Bringer of Blood" was released.
In 1997 the album "Warpath" was released and it gained the band more succes than ever. However, after the release Allen West left the band and was replaced by Steve Swanson of Massacre. Matt Cohen (Guitar) also joined the band for a short peroid of time. In 1999 they returned with the album "Maximum Violence" which was their most successful release to date. They then embarked on tours and in 2000 they returned to the studio to record "Graveyard Classics" which only consisted of classic metal covers.
In 2001 they were back with the album "True Carnage" which had Karyn Crisis, Paul Booth and Ice-T as guest vocalist. In 2003 "Bringer of Blood" was released.
[a251797]
Six Feet Under started in 1993. Now, when you look at the early 90's death metal scene, you are already going to compete with some very talented bands from places like Netherlands, Norway, and Finland; not to mention bands US bands like Deicide.
I will pick out certain albums and give my thoughts on them. I don't want to review every single album because that would just take too damn long.
Haunted: This album was only so/so in my books. It was more of a trial and error album. However, it was not bad. This album helped get the name out a bit. Well, that and putting it on Metal Blade helped a bit too. (Sense the undertone a bit guys?) Ah hell, I might as well say it. For those of you who do not know Metal Blade Records, they have started hundreds of bands, and by the time Six Feet Under had came around, they had already been going steady for years. But anyways, back to the album. I did buy this release, and if you are trying to get a feel for Six Feet Under, this album will be a good one for you to start off with. (Also, you may want to try Debauchery...which is a band, not a SFU album)
Warpath: Screw what anyone else says, I love this album. I remember hopping into a car, not knowing the speakers had been cranked, and all of a sudden Revenge of the Zombie starts to blast out. I honestly damn near punched the driver. When I was able to calm down a bit, I was able to actually listen to the song. That song, even though it gave me a bit of a bad start, remains to be one of my most cherished death metal songs of all time. (Not the highest, but very high up)
Bringer of Blood: Goddamn this album straight back to the drawing boards. Come on guys, it's okay when you make music for the love of it, but when you completely go against what you normally do and try to hit a political note with the metal under ground, you just screwed up. When I listen to metal, or any music, I don't want the singer or artist to be preaching to me about his or her beliefs in politics. Now, if you don't believe that this album is like that, go listen to Amerika the Brutal about ten times and get back with me on the subject. This release marked the decline in Six Feet Under. (I'm only going to review one other album, and it will be a short one)
Graveyard Classics 3: What in the name of hell is this? Seriously, why would you want to do another album, that is just like a previous one that sucked? Death metal bands have been notorious for covering more popular songs. Hell, even Children of Boddom covered Oops I Did It Again by Britney Spears. (It made it better, go listen to it) While some covers turn out good and sometimes even better than the original, none of these covers made par. This is the one album that I have ever got close to destroying. Now, a little bit on that subject. I cannot destroy music. I hate breaking a CD or a vinyl, I just don't like destroying musical works. (Some of you may understand why too, some may not) So, when I say I damn near broke this album, head my warning; this album sucks.
Overall, I give this band a 70/100. Given the previous bands that Barnes has worked with and played with, like Cannibal Corpse, and given the earlier musical works Six Feet Under has done, I cannot go lower than a 70. Now, if they had started off playing their music in the late 90s to early 00's, I would give this band about a 10%, if that. Anyways, if you want to check out this band, I'd highly suggest that you buy Warpath first, and then buy Haunted. You may like it, you may hate it, or you may not have any feelings at all towards it, but that's just something you will have to find out. And for you stingy bastards out there who don't want to shell out $10 to buy one of these mass marketed albums, go listen to them on Youtube.