That album cover repulses everyone that I show it too, which only makes me want to continue showing it to folks, no matter how disinterested they may be. It kind of reminds you of something Cannibal Corpse might have on a cover, doesn’t it? That would make sense because on Obesidade Morbida (even I can translate that) Brazil’s Anarkhon do a pretty good Barnes-era Cannibal Corpse impression, which in this case is a good thing.

By that I mean that Anarkhon owes a debt to the DM giants, but they don’t simply mimic the style. Instead they maintain a sense of identity by infusing classic US death with that distinctly South American vibe that never seems to get old. Even with a production on which the drummer seems to be hitting cardboard boxes, the sound of Obesidade Morbida is confident and pretty well written and it gets better after the first couple of listens.

Songs never get left in a blaze of technicality either, as the band relies quite heavily on groovy and something I would even term “swing” on many of these compositions. The title track is a perfect example; it just plain moves, at times vaguely reminding of Cannibal Corpse’ “Vomit the Soul.” Closing track “Terror, Morte e Antropofagia” may be the most dynamic of the bunch and no convolutedly so. And that Barnes’ nasal squeal to signal an arrangement break is awfully damn cool.

So yeah, Obesidade Morbida is solid, to say the least, although not the stuff of year-end lists or anything. Give yourself some time to get used to the production and you just may dig the album. Up the fatness!

[Visit the band's website]

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