Devotees of underground metal at its grimiest will want to check this one out. ‘R.F.E,’ the second album from sort-of-veterans Rabid Flesh Eaters features the last recording from Bruce Corbitt, vocalist for cult heroes Rigor Mortis. He appears on ‘The Fall,’ sharing mic duties with the Flesh Eaters’ regular singer Ricky Wilson and puts in a typically violent, snarling performance. The song itself is a relatively straightforward thrasher and while it’s a fun listen, there’s something bittersweet about knowing one the people involved is no longer with us. It’s not the best song he ever did, but there’s something fitting about this light-hearted head banger being the final thing he put his name on.
This isn’t the only Rigor Mortis link either, as 30 per cent of the track list are covers of their material. ‘Die In Pain,’ ‘Welcome To Your Funeral’ and the closing ‘Contagious Contamination’ are all RM originals re-done by the Flesh Eaters. As ‘The Fall’ appears twice on the track-list (the second version is a video edit), it’s probably more accurate to describe ‘R.F.E’ as more of an extended EP than a full album, but it’s still an enjoyable listen. This won’t crop up on any “Best of 2020” lists, but as a light-hearted jaunt through metal’s dingy underbelly it’s worth a listen.
This is music produced on a shoestring budget and so ramshackle it would be surprising if they made it into a studio at all. It sounds like it was played down a phone line and recorded on a cassette player that then got put through a dishwasher. The sound quality is terrible and while this should be a drawback, it adds a certain charm to proceedings. ‘Demons Within’ for instance would be ridiculous if it were a shiny, crystal clear song, but the “written in the van that the band also lives in” vibe makes it strangely endearing. Rabid Flesh Eaters come across like a bunch of penniless nutters who you’d cross the road to avoid, but the enthusiasm is etched clear on every tongue-in-cheek lyric.
This is true of ‘Vengeance Of Nightmares’ as well, a profoundly silly opening effort. It’s a punked-up number with a noticeable Motorhead influence and it’s loads of fun. And so are ‘Hallucinations,’ the title track and all the Rigor Mortis covers. This is metal where the artwork is black and white because colour printing costs more, the songs revolve around zombies, drugs, death and violence and playing a venue with a capacity of more than a hundred people is considered a tour highlight. ‘R.F.E’ isn’t going to change anyone’s life but it turns out that the bottom rung of the ladder has just as many uses as the top one. It’s also not the greatest swansong for an unsung hero, but Bruce probably had a great time recording it. May he rest in peace.
- ‘R.F.E’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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