BODY COUNT
“CARNIVORE”
Album Review by Vicky Jackson-Milne

10/10

Brutal.

That’s all that needs to be said. Thanks for reading.

Only joking!

2020 will be Body Count’s thirty year anniversary and what a way to celebrate the fact with an absolute stunner of a record to tickle everybody’s rap/thrash pickle where it’s never been tickled! Well, it may have been gently brushed against with the previous two albums. Ice T and chums have offered up their seventh studio album ‘Carnivore’, it’s as meaty as it sounds and features some equally meaty cameo’s.

‘No Remorse’ with it’s chugging riff and plodding rhythm is an excellent opener, and the first nod to the theme of this album, full of attitude and rage. Leading on to a Body Count style re-hash of Ice-T’s original track ‘Colors’ then on to ‘Another Level’. No, not the 90’s boyband.  Featuring the melodic doom-esque vocals of Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed contrasting against Ice’s rap.

Known for their covers on previous albums, up next is unfortunately, I hate to say it, the only track I didn’t like on the album. A cover of Motörhead’s Ace of Spades. Introduced with a lovely tribute to Lemmy, it sounds like they had a lot of fun recording it however, it just misses the mark for me.

Speeding up now, with ‘Bum Rush’, a track that pretty much takes a punch at everything in the world, backed with a furious guitar riff, guitar solo and constant drum beat. The propaganda continues in ‘Point the Finger’ featuring the guttural vocals of Riley Gale of Power Trip. With lyrics such as “they shoot first ask questions last”, “The fucking badge is the biggest gang we’ve ever had” you know that this song has a point to make. Perhaps an up to date ‘Cop Killer’.

Possibly the heaviest track on the album is the title track ‘Carnivore’ full of gruff guitars and double kicks, a heavy bass line and a deep throaty roar as back up vocals. We move on next to ‘The Hate is Real’. A visit to deepest darkest thrash town and a solid nod, lyrically, to Ice’s hip hop days.

‘Thee Critical Beatdown’ is neither here nor there for tracks on this album. It’s a continuation of the previous thrash track, with a breakdown towards the end however, it lends as a good bridge for the final track. ‘When I’m Gone’ is introduced by Ice-T himself. A loving tribute to rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was gunned down in 2019, this track features the haunting vocals of Amy Lee of Evanescence and is a stark reminder to everyone to not take your loved ones for granted. A more melodic feel, almost bordering on nu-metal, this track superbly rounds off ‘Carnivore’.

As with the band’s previous records, handling all of the world’s racism, social injustice, and various other critical world issues, Ice-T and Ernie C clearly need Body Count or I fear they may pop with rage. It’s refreshing that the messages within their songs aren’t subtle or hidden meanings. They’re clear, concise and brutal as fuck tell it how it is. And it’s fucking fantastic.

LISTEN FOR: ‘Point the Finger’, ‘The Hate is Real’, ‘When I’m Gone’

TRACKLIST:

Carnivore
Point the Finger (Ft. Riley Gale)
Bum Rush
Ace of Spades (Motorhead Cover)
Another Level (Ft. Jamey Jasta)
Colors – 2020
No Remorse
When I’m Gone (Ft. Amy Lee)
Thee Critical Breakdown
The Hate is Real

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LINEUP:

Ice-T – Vocals
Ernie-C – Lead guitar
Vincent Price – Bass/vocals
ill Will – Drums
Sean E. Sean – Sampler/vocals
Juan of the Dead – Guitar

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