ALBUM REVIEW: Extreme Graveyard Tornado – Birdflesh

It’s been eleven long years since Swedish grind-core legends BIRDFLESH, who have been raging since 1992, released their fourth album The Farmers Wrath . In the 27 years since BIRDFLESH‘s formation, the silliness has been unceasing, which is evident in this ridiculous brutal onslaught of merciless blast beats, furious riffs and hilarious growling vocals from all three members. Having waited over a decade, fans are unlikely to be disappointed as BIRDFLESH spews out 24 short sharp bursts of sheer mayhem with Extreme Graveyard Tornado, ranging from a whopping seven seconds to two minutes eleven seconds with most tracks barely hitting the one minute mark.

With the name Extreme Graveyard Tornado it probably comes as no surprise that this album storms ahead with an ear blistering blend of thrashing punky grind-core with a foul taste of death for extra effect. Opening track Towards Insanity promises just that and sets the tone for the psychotic and schizophrenic chaos to follow after exploding into life with blast beats to take your face off and shredding riffs that break down to a steady bouncing chug. The album rages the whole way through. Every element is at breakneck speed, as would be expected, but BIRDFLESH go that extra distance in having some fun with the music and after mixing up a disgusting amalgamation of random sounds and genres they spew out a horrific but wondrous creation.

As is per their custom everything is thrown into this bubbling cauldron of madness ensuring for mega fun times and potential mania. You’ll find groovy ska style saxophone in the track Grind Band which comes as a fun surprise amongst the ear battering drums, riffs and grunts. Crazyful blends in some symphonic black metal sounds and Garlic Man starts with a cheeky accordion intro before descending into madness. There are screeching guitar solos with a classic heavy metal feel, deathcore breakdowns and black metal tremolos all to be found throughout and more haphazardness to be heard throughout as well. Whilst the lyrics might seem juvenile and nonsensical, there is still a poignant degree of political and social commentary lurking in the background; especially in songs such as Milkshake Is Nice, which one can only assume is based around the latest milkshake throwing rebellion and Accused Of Suicide which tells the dark tale of a man punished for trying and failing to commit suicide. 

It might appear to read like a psychotic mess, but with lunacy as it’s main concept Extreme Graveyard Tornado is as tight as they come. The talent from all three musicians is seriously impressive and the welding together of so much randomness has really paid off to make this is serious contender for grindcore album of the year. Extreme Graveyard Tornado is a brain-pulverising, face-shredding, neck-snapping belter. One can only imagine the sheer delirium when performed live to a pit of grinning, moshing maniacs, probably with the odd inflatable thrown in.

Rating: 8/10

Extreme Graveyard Tornado is out now via Everlasting Spew Records. 

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