A staple of the Century Media roster during the early 2000’s, Carnal Forge is a Swedish band traversing the thrash/death parameters. Many may remember records such as The More You Suffer from 2003 and the follow up Aren’t You Dead Yet in 2004. Lineup and life changes took place from there – where Testify For My Victims came out in 2007 on Candlelight and twelve years later Gun to Mouth Salvation hit the streets for current label ViciSolum Productions. Add in bassist Lars Linden’s recent colon cancer diagnosis since 2023 and it’s no wonder that the band may be slower in output than the past – but no less inspired or passionate about channeling these challenges into fuel for the creative fire.
Back with The Fractured Process, this is a quick three-song EP hitter that illustrates youthful-oriented attack motions channeled through the seasoning and experience of musicians who have been playing their instruments for three to four decades. Opener “The Final Enemy” contains a blitzkrieg of twin chunky rhythms that match the piercing vocal screams, while the bass/drum work captivates between its speedier sections next to some highly engaging groove foundational movements. Exemplary lead play contains a hefty mix of melo-death harmonies, fleet licks, as well as thematic accents that hammer in the addictive qualities of the song. The next outing “Fragment of Sanity” contains some nifty stop/ start interplay between the drums and guitars before a Slayer-esque double kick sequence gives chase to more thick riffs, controlled mid-tempo thrash underpinning as well as some sinister talk to acidic main melodies. Saving the most shapeshifting effort for last in “Ready to Burn”, once again the speed, power, and intensity will win over the followers, a stairstep harmony riff recalling the best of Swedish melodic death next to 80s NWOBHM.
Originally recorded right after Gun to Mouth Salvation in 2020, its appropriate that Carnal Forge waited a few years to release The Fractured Process. Given the shorter attention spans at play in this flooded release market, this EP could indoctrinate plenty of people into the fold – and remind listeners of the greatness of melodic thrash with death inflections from Scandinavia again.