Following on from 2017’s quite excellent Bloodlust and boasting suitably necro artwork (Zbigniew M. Bielak), Carnivore sees Ice-T’s relentless rap-metal outfit Body Count return with a typically PC-baiting title and ten new tracks, including an updated take on Colors and a typically feisty cover of Ace Of Spades, which follows neatly in the footsteps of the band’s awesome take on Raining Blood. Short, and violently succinct, Carnivore rarely wastes time, putting Ice-T’s belligerent, albeit intelligent, rapping front and centre, producer Will Putney giving the band the same sense of depth and power that he bought to Bloodlust.
Opening with the title track, Carnivore gets blisteringly to the point, Ice T delivering his lyrics like so many bullets, his furiously unrepentant Nietzschean diatribe detailing the increasingly hostile streets, where only the strong survive. Upping the ante considerably, the pointed Point The Finger (feat. Power Trip’s motor-mouthed Riley Gale) is a ferocious comment on the social blight that is institutional racism. It’s a track that sees Ice T’s anger well-placed, whilst Riley proves to be the perfect foil, delivering a performance worthy of Max Cavalera, his vocals positively dripping with spite. Reverting to the signature sound that has held true, at least since Violent Demise, Bum-Rush is a ferocious, adrenalin-charged blast of rap metal. A brief spoken-word interlude sees Ice T introduce a track that needs little introduction. Nevertheless, there’s something reassuring about Body Count covering Ace Of Spades and, as with Raining Blood, it’s a sincere love letter from one artist to another, not to mention a heart-felt tribute to Lemmy. The first half of the album concludes with the thuggish intensity of Another Level (featuring Hatebreed brutalist Jamey Jasta). Another blistering piece of work, it stands out as an album highpoint thanks to its mid-paced, Slayer-esque riffing and endlessly sing-able chorus.
Opening side two, Colors makes a welcome return in the guise of Colours 2020, a toughened, heavy riffing take on a classic cut. With so much of society currently tearing itself apart, it feels more relevant than ever, whether referring to gang culture, or the wider state of politics; and Body Count make damn sure it packs a vital punch. Speaking of which, the brutal scraping riff of No Remorse sees Ice-T at his most strung out, declaring “If I offended you, it was intentional!” Monstrously down-tuned and delivered with real venom, No Remorse is another album highlight. In contrast, When I’m Gone (featuring an impressive turn from Amy Lee) sees the band deliver a track which combines irresistible melody and poignancy in equal measure. It’s an unexpected digression, and it works far better on record than it does on paper, especially in the light of Ice-T’s heartfelt, spoken word opening. Such moments of light, only go to make heavier fare such as Thee Critical Breakdown, sound all the more brutal. Then there’s The Hate Is real, the band delivering an all-out, panic-stricken thrash attack, bringing the album to a thrilling conclusion.
This last week, I’ve had a pretty good chance to get to know Carnivore, and its thuggish charms have yet to wear off. Short, sharp and powerfully produced, it mixes biting social commentary, hard-hitting rap and blistering guitar work to impressive effect. Pretty much the epitome of what rap-metal should be, Body Count have managed to build on 2017’s Bloodlust and deliver what is arguably their best album yet. 9/10
