CADAVER - Edder and Bile (Review)

Written by: The Voiceless Apparition

​Here's an interesting question for you fine folks: think back to what you were doing 16 years ago. What were you doing? 16 years ago the underground enigma known as Anders Odden was releasing what was the "last" Cadaver album, Necrosis. But sadly, not a lot of people know who Cadaver is, and that's a damn shame.

Cadaver are arguably the first death metal band to have ever come from Norway. They released two stellar albums in the early 1990's before abruptly disbanding in 1993. After reforming, changing their name twice, and releasing two more albums, Cadaver have returned with Edder and Bile. Anders Odden is the sole remaining original member (a lone wolf if you will), but this time around he is joined by one of the best drummers in all of extreme metal, and one of my personal drumming influences, Dirk fucking Verbeuren!

So what has this 16 year hiatus done for Cadaver? Let's dive right in...

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The album begins with "Morgue Ritual." A hammer to the skull on your senses. Immediately the song just kicks in, guns ablaze. This first song alone proves that Cadaver haven't lost a step and are still the kings of Norwegian death metal. I'm in love with Anders' pestilential vocal performance, and, lest it be forgot, Dirk Verbeuren's drum performance. He adds more of a technical flair to these songs without losing that raw and primitive edge that death metal needs, in my opinion. "Circle of Morbidity" is where the album starts to take a twisted turn. While all of these songs stay within the old-school death metal realms, things start to become even more twisted with jagged and angular riffs, and a really intriguing groove during the choruses in the song.

"Final Fight" continues on with the more twisted trajectory of this album. I love the line "don't tell me what to do!" in this song too: it's almost an anthemic call to all death metal fans around the world. I should also mention that when I say these songs are twisted and jagged, I mean in more of a black metal sense, not necessarily in terms of dissonant tonality or anything of the sort. My favorite song on the album is easily "Reborn." It is by far the most black metal leaning song on the album--extremely cold, harsh, and melodic riffing but with the bite of death metal still in the forefront. I love everything about this song, but, notably, the star of the show here is Dirk Verbeuren. The man just has a way with creating unique and interesting grooves and fills. The last song i'll be talking about is "Let Me Burn." A beastly and groovy banger of a tune. The groove on this song is relentless. The double bass work compliments the riffs extremely well, making the whole song a single giant hook. Great way to end this album.

So the biggest thing to take away, and the major question overall: did Cadaver succeed after a 16 year hiatus? Yes. While I can't say that this is my favorite death metal album of the year or that this is a perfect album, and while I do find that some of the songs just don't have as many hooks as others, it is still a passionate and brutal affair that will surely please death metal fans alike. I have a feeling that by the next album, Cadaver will have found their footing and WILL end up releasing an album that will be one of my favorite death metal albums of the year.The future is bright for Cadaver, and I am very excited and looking forward to what they create next--but lets just hope that we don't have to wait another 16 years haha! I have a feeling we won't. Anders Odden and Dirk Verbeuren, I salute you gentlemen. Congratulations on returning, the death metal scene is very happy. 

Cadaver - Edder and Bile was released Nov. 27th, 2020 from Nuclear Blast

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