Embedded Files
CANCER “Inverted World”
CANCER “Inverted World”
By: Lord Randall
CANCER has never been a groundbreaking band, but the first trio of albums in the early ‘90s did establish John Walker, Ian Buchanan and Carl Stokes as a solid act, perfectly capable of holding its own in a direct support slot with the giants of the heavier end of the metal spectrum. And then the grunge, heavy “alternative”, and groove metal scenes swallowed the band whole and shat it out the other end, resulting in the band’s very own “Cold Lake”, the feeble grasp at modern “relevance” called “Black Faith”. Wisely dissolving for a while, a sad EP and shrug-worthy “Spirit In Flames” surfaced in the mid ‘00s. After yet again disbanding, Walker somehow coerced the original formation back, and 2018’s “Shadow Gripped” showed a band that still could deliver if it really, really wanted to.
And now, “Inverted World” arrives, Walker reconfiguring CANCER as himself and three Spaniards over two decades his junior. Some may piss, some may moan, some may do both, but I’m going to approach this with an open mind, in hopes that these young’uns have given this man the kick in the arse he so rightly needed to get back to the business of death.
Choppy, convulsive riffing begins “Enter The Gates”, and maybe I’m going to proven right, Walker’s vocals instantly recognizable, and damned if that slower bit [2:02-2:39] of bedrock that is the chorus doesn’t stand up right proudly alongside anything CANCER put its name to during its height. Of note already on “Inverted World” is the contribution of drummer Gabriel Valcázar, Lombardo, Bostaph and Daillor reference points, the latter mostly in the fills that pepper much of his technique, “Until They Died” being the “sit up and take notice” moment for me.
After a solid title track, “39 Bodies” slows the pace a bit, but not the fire, an off-kilter riff ‘n’ rhythm pattern impressive in execution, and there’s a bit of John Tardy in Walker’s delivery, a dry rasp, yet mid-guttural. “Amputate” churns in a mid-paced but malevolent gyre and – CANCER never being known as speed demons – seems to hit that sweet spot which also gives guitarist Robert Navajas well-deserved time front of mix. Placing the foot a good bit further down on the accelerator, “Covert Operations” drives us into “Jesus For Eugenics”, a strange one indeed.
Soft, somber at the start, the ghost of “Black Faith” returning in its grunge/heavy “alternative” sensibilities but still manages to somehow fit in its position on the record. Bassist Daniel Maganto almost seems to pilot this one, likely due to its focus on groove, and the interplay of he and Valcázar is going to serve the band well, provided we can keep this revamped lineup together.
And please do, John. For the love of death, do! “Inverted World” is the most like a band anything with the name CANCER on it has sounded in far, far too long. Some will piss, some will moan, some will do both. Fuck ‘em and move forward. I’d love to hear this CANCER bang out the old shit.
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