Review by Carl on August 9, 2021.

Because American Line Productions is the label that brought the world less than subtle acts such as Kabak, Disgorge and Domain, I immediately thought that Cangrena would be a band of the same mold, but (in part) because of the production they have going on this album, there isn't a whole lot of resemblance. Let me tell you all about it.

Cangrena plays death/grind alright, but in a way more old school style than the remorseless brutality their label mates have on offer. In a big part this is because of the rather peculiar production on this album. The kinda muffled sound mix reminded me of the first albums of South American bands such as Sepultura, Psychic Possessor and Sarcofago, with the latter being pretty similar in style to Cangrena as well. Frantic blast beats and aggressively tremolo picked riffing fight it out with gargling down-pitched vocals, immediately bringing to mind what bands such as Sextrash, Holocausto and the already mentioned Sarcofago did on their debut releases. The riffing has a Possessed edge to it as well, upping the old school factor even more, but the influence of the 80's output of Carcass and Napalm Death should be mentioned as well. At times I even hear a faint crossover thrash influence (think Cryptic Slaughter or even Righteous Pigs) in the riffing as well. The music sounds awfully familiar throughout the whole album, and if someone would have told me that this was a lost South American death metal album from 1988, I would have readily believed them.

As mentioned before, the production sounds pretty odd here. Even by 1999 standards this sounds hopelessly dated, with its dry sounding drums, thin guitars and effect vocals, but lo and behold, it works for them! Yes, it does sound dated as hell, but at the same time it (unintentionally?) gives the music an old school vibe that a lot of throwback bands nowadays would kill for. I certainly dig this cd a lot, despite the peculiar production and the mistakes the band makes throughout the album's runtime. It all makes this album ooze a certain underground charm, and that is something that I am particularly susceptible for.

This is not a release that I'd say is recommended or a must-hear, but I would say that this is an interesting oddity for sure, a kind of insider tip for all who are into old school death metal or 80's South American thrash/death metal for sure. It won't fill some kind of gaping hole in your collection, but if you find it for cheap (or download it), it sure is an enjoyable rarity worthy of your time.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by JD on April 28, 2012.

Out of the sleepy state of South Dakota, where usually the most fun that you can ever have is getting drunk and pushing over sleeping cows under a full moon or try to impregnate your neighbours daughter without the father catching you comes a band that puts ‘blood, guts and gore’ back into the metal lexicon, and then some as well. Alcohol paralysed Hillbillies and the mentally slow need to beware - the Tennessee Murder Club is looking for its next victim...er...fan.

This may be nothing out of the ordinary for Death Metal, but Tennessee Murder Club is in a blood soaked and murderous category all by themselves, pounding out very solid old school Death Metal with an added ferocity that usually comes from extreme Black Metal. Each horrific song lyric that tell the tale of suffering, eradication and how to do killings, seems to top any of the Stephen King masterpieces, yet seems to always lead into another story of perverse disembowelment and the humans capable of such sadistic things.

Listening to the bloodletting that every Tennessee Murder Club song gives, shows that a new crop of Death Metal is alive and kicking ass. Each eviscerating word and brain spattered thought send with the bludgeoning music is 100% pure blood-letting Death Metal. Nastiness comes on a disk with eleven of the most gore splattered songs ever. They have not done anything new to Death Metal, but they have firmly defined it once again.

I have been waiting for some true Death Metal to re-appear and set the bar higher in the scene for people to strive for and now my wish has become true. Looks like the Tennessee Murder Club has truly brought it back with no nonsense Death Metal at is glorious and blood splattered best.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9
Originality: 8
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.0 out of 10