Of all the styles of metal that we have to choose from, it’s the worlds of grind and anything like brutal death metal that I have a hard time getting into despite my best efforts to get into them from time to time. But, a beautiful sight from grind came to me and so many others in the form of Cattle Decapitation’s unanimously loved “The Anthropocene Extinction” which still remains the only grind album of any kind I can easily sit down and listen to. I’ve been putting off sitting down and listening to their catalog for no reason other than procrastination, but with “Medium Rarities” we’re given a whopping 23 tracks that span the decades that this act has been devastating the world, and it’s everything I’ve needed to hear from grind.

I’ve said over the years how the occasional grind album could act as my gateway to the world of that style, there hasn’t been any other band that I’ve been itching for from grind more than Cattle Decapitation. As they continue the arduous process that is creating the follow-up to “Anthropocene”, “Medium Rarities” is a very random but extremely welcome surprise from these legends. Consisting of almost two dozen tracks of rare quality that comes from many different places like unreleased tracks, rare 7″s, a once-believed lost track that was planned for a Japanese release that never happened, six pre-“Human Jerky” demos, and even a long sought-after bonus track for “To Serve Man”. It’s such a wide variety that spans almost the entirety of Cattle Decapitation’s legendary career that as someone who has only heard their latest album it feels like looking through a museum and seeing so many awesome pieces in their unique grandeur. Every single track is a trip through time and every piece of “Medium Rarities” is one insidious treat after another. The whole of this collection is an absolute treat for long-time fans and a world-opener for newer fans like myself. Vicious riffs, an unbridled fury that doesn’t even have containment in its vocabulary, the top-tier godlike quality that Cattle Decapitation has become synonymous with, and flawless musicianship fueled by burning passion grace “Medium Rarities” from top to bottom that help make this collection not only an intoxicating listen but also one that is easily one of the most energetic, exciting, and craziest releases that we’re to get all year.

So many of us were tearing at the bone to hear something new from Cattle Decapitation for their new record, and I just wanted to hear more I don’t care if it’s more melodic like “Anthropocene” or something insane like “To Serve Man”. But like a bloody angel sent from the terror-inducing deity, we’re presented with “Medium Rarities”. A collection of modern grind history that should not be turned up and one that if anyone wants to get a taste of grind should experience at least once.

“Medium Rarities” releases on November 23rd via Metal Blade Records!

PRE-ORDER “Medium Rarities” via iTunes here.

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