Cannibal Corpse - Created To Kill

[Pagan Saviour]

Picked up a bootleg vinyl of this a few months back on Discogs. Anyone familiar with it?? Have to say it's infinitely superior to the album it became with Fisher. Corpse have been on a downward trajectory since Barnes left (Musically speaking, well aware their popularity has only increased), producing ever more sterile identical sounding records. Literally no variation in Fishers vocals, I'll hand it to him in that he has the ability to make all their material sound the same. I think the last entertaining record for me anyway would've been Bloodthirst possibly.

But back to Created to Kill, it really is a lost gem. After delivering four stone cold classics, they couldn't quite keep up the momentum on Vile but with Barnes' vocals present on this version, there's additional colour on tracks which I would've previously deemed dull. The vocal approach is something between his style on Bleeding and the earlier Six Feet Under Records. It's a shame they didn't progress together, Barnes was capable of a genuinely nasty lyric, after his departure they've subsequently become so childish. And although it did seem like he was bullied out of the band, things probably worked out better for Cannibal Corpse as anyone who's kept up to speed with Six Feet Under will testify, Barnes has completely cooked himself and any vocal ability he once had has completely deserted him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVlNYx0Hf-8&t=35s

[mickO)))]

I have this LP as well along with a few of the live bootleg ones. These tracks were originally released as part of the 15 year killing spree comp about 20 years ago. Personally I prefer the Fisher versions of the songs mainly because that it what I was use to and I had know Vile for many years before I heard these other versions. I love the first 4 Cannibals albums but Bloodthirst for me is the best thing they have done.

[Eoin McLove]

Sounds great. Barnes's vocals in the mid 90s were untouchable, even on the first SFU, even if his lyrics were terrible (even to my clueless then 13 year old ear). Corpsegrinder is consistent and his performance on Vile was great in its own right, but he was no Barnes. Interesting to hear those songs with entirely different vocal structures as well. Less immediately catchy (probably more to do with me being familiar with the Vile versions) but undeniably cool.

[Pagan Saviour]

hat it what I was use to and I had know Vile for many years before I heard these other versions.

I will admit, it took a listen or two for me to get over that fact, but once I did Created To Kill became the preference.

Less immediately catchy (probably more to do with me being familiar with the Vile versions) but undeniably cool.

Again, I think that's a sign of Barnes creativity whereas Fisher just locks in with the beat. I do think Fisher has a distinctive voice but he just seems like such a lazy individual that isn't involved in the creative process whatsoever.

[mickO)))]

The lyrics for these demos are also different to the versions that George sang on. Unfortunately the Barnes lyrics don't seem to be available anywhere.

When I was very young I enjoyed SFU the last album I checked out was Death Rituals and from what I have read it has gotten really bad since then. I would still head along to an SFU gig if they played here have only seen them once before at Wacken in 06.

They were suppose to play in the Voodoo Lounge in October 2005 but for some reason the show was cancelled and Fozzy ended up playing that night instead.

[Pagan Saviour]

Really? Don't recall ever seeing them booked to play here.

I've seen them live a couple of times myself and have to say they're great craic, there's normally some AC/DC or Cannibal Corpse Covers thrown in for good measure.They don't seem to play live now though, no evidence of shows since 2019 and the insufferable Jack Owen is now in the band. The first few records are worth having as you say but the quality seriously declines then. I'd stopped buying their stuff but picked up Nightmares Of The Decomposed on a whim and was shocked at the state of his voice in particular never mind the music it was in rag order. Felt sad for the chap after hearing it.

[Eoin McLove]

Jack Owen is in SFU? Fucking hell 

[Pagan Saviour]

Yeah played on the last record and it's worse than you can imagine.

Have a listen to this, aside from the vocals being weak as piss they're not even in time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX9RCYgMJWc&t=85s

[mickO)))]

Really? Don't recall ever seeing them booked to play here.

I've seen them live a couple of times myself and have to say they're great craic, there's normally some AC/DC or Cannibal Corpse Covers thrown in for good measure.They don't seem to play live now though, no evidence of shows since 2019 and the insufferable Jack Owen is now in the band. The first few records are worth having as you say but the quality seriously declines then. I'd stopped buying their stuff but picked up Nightmares Of The Decomposed on a whim and was shocked at the state of his voice in particular never mind the music it was in rag order. Felt sad for the chap after hearing it.

Yes if my memory serves me correctly it was suppose to happen on October 15th 2005 it was back in the emerald promotion days. A few gigs were announced back in those days that never ended up happening Hate Eternal was another one they were down to play Whelans in early 05 I think it was which never happened either. HE did come back a few years later and played Whelans in June of 08 but they haven't been back since.

I wouldn't listen to SFU much these days but I use to love True Carnage and Maximum violence they still have some great songs like hacked to pieces, no warning shot and of course one bullet left 

[Pagan Saviour]

Hate Eternal, I do recall were seemingly booked multiple times but they did do a show in Eamon Dorans in 2002, which was absolutely dreadful. A fucking wall of noise. Never bothered with the Whelan's show on that basis.

[Carnage]

Haunted was grand, shite after that.

I like the Created To Kill demos but prefer the Fisher versions. I prefer him as a vocalist anyway, Barnes was very hit & miss, and more miss really. Fine on Eaten..., but just indecipherable grunts on Butchered... and Tomb.... He improved on about half the songs on The Bleeding but I was glad to see the back of him after.

They've become very samey in the last decade or so, but Vile, The Wretched Spawn, Kill, Evisceration Plague and Red Before Black are all decent.

[Pagan Saviour]

Don't know how anyone could prefer Fisher really unless you like the same thing over and over.

Barnes gave us four distinctly different approaches across Eaten, Butchered, Tomb and Bleeding. Something Fisher would be incapable of. Barnes also has way cooler stage presence, Fisher is a clown. Look at any of the compilations on Youtube. 

[mickO)))]

Hate Eternal, I do recall were seemingly booked multiple times but they did do a show in Eamon Dorans in 2002, which was absolutely dreadful. A fucking wall of noise. Never bothered with the Whelan's show on that basis.

I didn't know about the 02 show I would have been too young. I went to the 08 show and it was brilliant. I would love to see them again. Saw them last in 2016 and really enjoyed it.

Marduk and Carpathian Forest with Tsjuder supporting on a different date was also cancelled in Feb 05. With Marduk a reason was given as the whole tour was postponed due to Emil getting in a fight in a subway station and hurting his arm. They played again in August of 05 in Whelans which is still to this day the best Marduk performance I have ever seen. Carpathian came back and played the Voodoo Lounge in May of 06 without Tsjuder that was also a great show.

[General Lee]

I have these in the 15 year killing spree boxset, they're pretty cool alright but I way prefer Vile. Vile, Gallery, Bloodthirst and Wretched Spawn are savage albums. I think CC lost all their catchiness once Jack Owen left, he wrote loads of killer songs

[open face surgery]

Hate Eternal, I do recall were seemingly booked multiple times but they did do a show in Eamon Dorans in 2002, which was absolutely dreadful. A fucking wall of noise. Never bothered with the Whelan's show on that basis.

I didn't know about the 02 show I would have been too young. I went to the 08 show and it was brilliant. I would love to see them again. Saw them last in 2016 and really enjoyed it.

Marduk and Carpathian Forest with Tsjuder supporting on a different date was also cancelled in Feb 05. With Marduk a reason was given as the whole tour was postponed due to Emil getting in a fight in a subway station and hurting his arm. They played again in August of 05 in Whelans which is still to this day the best Marduk performance I have ever seen. Carpathian came back and played the Voodoo Lounge in May of 06 without Tsjuder that was also a great show.

That Carpathian Forest gig was the night before Reverend Bizarre. The latter was great but I remember nothing about CF. Was at that Marduk gig and thought it was good but remember the one with Immolation in The Pint being better.