2OO STAB WOUNDS — ‘MANUAL MANIC PROCEDURES’

Writer’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ohio death metal act 200 Stab Wounds have been slashing through peoples playlists since their 2020 debut EP, and even further with 2021 debut ‘Slave to the Scalpel’, and there have been few bands more deserving of this quick rise to fame in the modern death metal scene; their sophomore album being no exception.

Death metal has been making somewhat of a comeback in recent years, with the next wave of bands such as Sanguisugabogg, Undeath and Frozen Soul matching the same force and ferocity of the genres old titans such as Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse, while still feeling fresh and interesting in a place so hard to stand out. 200 Stab Wounds master their barbaric, sadistic yet simplistic sound on this album; they’re not holding anything back, aiming to put themselves on every metalheads radar. They’ve set their sights on being up there with the greats, and this album is certainly a large piece of the puzzle.

All it takes is a minute for the band to catch somebody’s eye, Slayer-esque riffs set the scene for a murder in single and album opener ‘Hands of Eternity’, immediately stepping up from their debut effort with a crisper production and a crushing bass tone. Though the best is yet to come with the brutality of ‘Gross Abuse’ letting the drums shine, complimented by crushing riffs that call for two-steps in their savage mix of brutal death metal and hardcore.

The title track follows with fast-tempo, surgical precision featuring every aspect of the band you could wish for in under 3 minutes. This bloodthirsty violence continues through the next track, a personal favourite of mine ‘Release the Stench’ featuring ruthless riffs in a hardcore fashion, stealing the hearts of fans the fastest way they can, straight through the ribcage.

Other stand outs include the fierce interlude ‘Led to the Chamber/ Liquified’ which would fit perfectly in an 80s slasher, before the latter half turns the song into a 3 minute crushing grindcore pandemonium, perfectly encapsulating the atmosphere and aesthetic of the whole record, yet again showing the versatility and talent of the band in a genre which has been so stale in modern years.

The penultimate track delves further into their hardcore influence, featuring Jami Morgan of Code Orange delivering a monumental performance that would fit on an old Code Orange Kids album. The closing track buries you six feet under in their malignant meticulousness of riffs and blast beats, and a solo and breakdown leave you longing for more as the album rings out into feedback and static.

200 Stab Wounds range from fast tempo brutality to slower, moodier inhumane pieces which allow the band to truly shine – they deliver in every aspect of their sound, though in the moodier segments the stomping variety of their riffs and basslines truly emanate and deliver. As a whole, 200 Stab Wounds deliver a 29 minute, action-packed bloodthirsty horror which steps up from any previous efforts from the band, leaving a lasting impact on the listener in fashion that would do bands such as Slayer and Cannibal Corpse proud; 200 Stab Wounds are here to let them know it’s time to pass the torch to the next generation.