{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{About|a music album|the geological event|Holocene extinction|and|Anthropocene}} {{Infobox album | name = The Anthropocene Extinction | type = studio | artist = Cattle Decapitation | cover = Cattle Decapitation - The Anthropocene Extinction.jpg | alt = plastic pours from a dead man’s corpse in a post-apocalyptic beach environment with factories in the background | released = {{Start date|2015|8|7}} | recorded = January–February 2015 | venue = | studio = Flatline Audio, Westminster, CO | genre = Technical death metal, deathgrind | length = {{Duration |m=46 |s=14}} | label = Metal Blade | producer = Dave Otero | prev_title = Monolith of Inhumanity | prev_year = 2012 | next_title = Death Atlas | next_year = 2019 | misc = {{Singles | name = The Anthropocene Extinction | type = Studio | single1 = Cannibalistic Invasivorism | single1date = June 19, 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2015/06/19/stream-cattle-decapitation-s-new-flexi-disc-cannibalistic-invasivorism/|title=Stream Cattle Decapitation's New Flexi Disc "Cannibalistic Invasivorism"|date=September 5, 2019|accessdate=May 12, 2023|publisher=Decibel}}</ref>}} }}
'''''The Anthropocene Extinction''''' is the sixth studio album by American death metal band Cattle Decapitation. It was released on August 7, 2015, on Metal Blade Records.<ref name="MB press release">{{cite press release |author=Staff writer(s) |title=CATTLE DECAPITATION To Release 'The Anthropocene Extinction' This August Via Metal Blade Records |url=http://www.metalblade.com/us/news/cattle-decapitation-to-release-the-anthropocene-extinction/ |publisher=Metal Blade Records |date=May 20, 2015 |access-date=May 23, 2015}}</ref> It became Cattle Decapitation's first album to chart on the ''Billboard'' 200, debuting at No. 100 (No. 44 on "Top Albums").
== Lyrical concept == The previous record, ''Monolith of Inhumanity'', dealt with the future of Earth, if mankind keeps its current style of life. ''The Anthropocene Extinction'' deals with the results of mankind's influence on the environment, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.<ref name="MB press release" />
== Critical reception == {{Album ratings | MC = 86/100<ref name="MC">{{Metacritic album}}</ref> | rev1 = About.com | rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fl/Cattle-Decapitation-The-Anthropocene-Extinction-Review.htm |title=Cattle Decapitation - ''The Anthropocene Extinction'' Review |last1=Marsicano |first1=Dan |website=heavymetal.about.com |publisher=About.com |access-date=August 15, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304224027/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fl/Cattle-Decapitation-The-Anthropocene-Extinction-Review.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> | rev2 = ''Exclaim!'' | rev2Score = 9/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/cattle_decapitation-anthropocene_extinction |title=Cattle Decapitation ''The Anthropocene Extinction'' |last1=Zorgdrager |first1=Bradley |date=August 5, 2015 |website=exclaim.ca |access-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref> | rev3 = Metal Hammer | rev3Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Metal Hammer review">{{cite web | url = http://teamrock.com/review/2015-07-21/cattle-decapitation-the-anthropocene-extinction | title = Cattle Decapitation: The Anthropocene Extinction | last = Dare | first = Tom | date = July 21, 2015 | accessdate = October 17, 2016 | publisher = Metal Hammer}}</ref> | rev4 = MetalSucks | rev4Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="MetalSucks review">{{cite web | url = http://www.metalsucks.net/2015/08/07/cattle-decapitation-review/ | title = Album Review: The Extinction of Cattle Decapitation | last = Rothmund | first = David Lee | date = August 7, 2015 | accessdate = October 17, 2016 | publisher = MetalSucks}}</ref> | rev5 = Sputnikmusic | rev5Score = 3.1/5<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/68143/Cattle-Decapitation-The-Anthropocene-Extinction |title=Review: Cattle Decapitation - ''The Anthropocene Extinction'' |last1=K. |first1=Elijah |date=August 12, 2015 |website=www.sputnikmusic.com |publisher=Sputnikmusic |access-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref> | rev6 = Ultimate Guitar | rev6Score = 8.7/10<ref name="Ultimate Guitar review">{{cite web | url = https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/cattle_decapitation/the_anthropocene_extinction/index.html | title = The Anthropocene Extinction Review | last = Quigley | first = Joseph | date = August 7, 2015 | accessdate = October 17, 2016 | publisher = Ultimate Guitar}}</ref> }}
The album received widespread acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic (a review aggregator site which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 from music critics), based on four critics, the album has received a score of 86/100, which indicates "universal acclaim". Reviews particularly praised Travis Ryan's vocal performance, with Exclaim! writing that "Littered throughout the wasteland of gurgling growls and shrill shrieks that fill ''The Anthropocene Extinction'' are the snarls that the vocalist experimented with on 2012's ''Monolith of Inhumanity'', a sort of pseudo-singing that just might be more unsettling than his more traditional death metal scream, and which showcases his impressive range."
About.com praised the variety and songwriting on the album, praising the band's attention to detail: "Cattle Decapitation write albums, a quality that allows each song to fit within the entire grand vision. An interlude like 'The Burden of Seven Billion' may seem like filler, but its placement allows a reprise from a first half of life-draining potency. A similar claim follows the gloomy 'Ave Exitium', which follows in the vein of 'The Harvest Floor' and 'The Monolith' as a haunting intro to a momentous closer in 'Pacific Grim'."
==Track listing== {{Track listing | total_length = 46:14 | all_lyrics = Travis Ryan | all_music = Cattle Decapitation | title1 = Manufactured Extinct | length1 = 4:40 | title2 = The Prophets of Loss | length2 = 4:07 | title3 = Plagueborne | length3 = 4:58 | title4 = Clandestine Ways (Krokodil Rot) | length4 = 4:34 | title5 = Circo Inhumanitas | length5 = 4:03 | title6 = The Burden of Seven Billion | length6 = 1:23 | title7 = Mammals in Babylon | length7 = 4:09 | title8 = Mutual Assured Destruction | length8 = 2:42 | title9 = Not Suitable for Life | length9 = 3:16 | title10 = Apex Blasphemy | length10 = 3:45 | title11 = Ave Exitium | length11 = 3:06 | title12 = Pacific Grim | length12 = 5:25 }}
{{Track listing | headline = Japanese edition bonus track | total_length = 49:34 | title13 = No Light and No Life | length13 = 3:24 }}
{{Track listing | headline = Limited edition bonus tracks | total_length = 53:32 | title13 = Cannibalistic Invasivorism | length13 = 4:00 | title14 = No Light and No Life | length14 = 3:24 }}
{{Track listing | headline = Limited edition bonus DVD | total_length = 67:27 | title1 = Forced Gender Reassignment | note1 = live at Party San 2012 | length1 = 3:46 | title2 = Your Disposal | note2 = live at Party San 2012 | length2 = 4:22 | title3 = Lifestalker | note3 = live at Party San 2012 | length3 = 4:14 | title4 = Projectile Ovulation | note4 = live at Party San 2012 | length4 = 3:40 | title5 = Kingdom of Tyrants | note5 = live at Party San 2012 | length5 = 4:33 | title6 = Your Disposal | note6 = music video | length6 = 4:36 | title7 = Kingdom of Tyrants | note7 = music video, extended mini film version | length7 = 9:00 | title8 = Regret and the Grave | note8 = music video | length8 = 4:36 | title9 = A Body Farm | note9 = music video | length9 = 5:33 | title10 = Reduced to Paste | note10 = music video | length10 = 4:13 | title11 = To Serve Man | note11 = music video | length11 = 3:10 | title12 = Making of ''The Anthropocene Extinction'' | note12 = studio report | length12 = 15:50 }}
== Personnel == Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=The Anthropocene Extinction |others=Cattle Decapitation |year=2015 |type=liner notes |publisher=Metal Blade Records}}</ref>
'''Cattle Decapitation''' * Travis Ryan – vocals, keyboards, drums on "Ave Exitium" * Josh Elmore – guitars * Dave McGraw – drums * Derek Engemann – bass, additional gang vocals on "The Prophets of Loss", keyboards and drums on "The Burden of Seven Billion"
'''Guest musicians''' * Philip H. Anselmo – narration on "The Prophets of Loss"
'''Additional musicians''' * Author & Punisher – intro of "Plagueborne" * Jürgen Bartsch <small>(Bethlehem)</small> – spoken word on "Pacific Grim"
'''Production''' * Dave Otero – production, mixing, mastering * Shane Howard – engineering assistance
'''Artwork and design''' * Wes Benscoter – album artwork, photo editing * Brian Ames – album layout * Sam Lanthrem – photography * Denise Ryan – photography * Zach Cordner – photography * Travis Ryan – art direction, concept
'''Studio''' * Flatline Audio, Westminster, Colorado – production, mixing, mastering
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col"| Chart (2015) !scope="col"| Peak<br/>position |- {{Album chart|Germany|88|id=280305|artist=Cattle Decapitation|album=The Anthropocene Extinction}} |- {{Album chart|UKIndependent|43|artist=Cattle Decapitation |date=August 14, 2015}} |- {{Album chart|UKRock|22|date=20150814}} |- {{Album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|44|artist=Cattle Decapitation|accessdate=August 20, 2015}} |- {{Album chart|Billboard200|100|artist=Cattle Decapitation|accessdate=August 20, 2015}} |- {{Album chart|BillboardIndependent|5|artist=Cattle Decapitation}} |- {{Album chart|BillboardHardRock|5|artist=Cattle Decapitation|accessdate=August 20, 2015}} |- {{Album chart|BillboardRock|14|artist=Cattle Decapitation}} |- {{Album chart|BillboardTastemaker|11|artist=Cattle Decapitation}} |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{AllMusic |class=album |id=mw0002841057 |label=''The Anthropocene Extinction''}} * [http://www.metalblade.com/us/releases/cattle-decapitation-the-anthropocene-extinction ''The Anthropocene Extinction''] at Metal Blade
{{Cattle Decapitation}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Anthropocene Extinction}} Category:2015 albums Category:Albums produced by Dave Otero Category:Albums recorded at Flatline Audio Category:Albums with cover art by Wes Benscoter Category:Cattle Decapitation albums Category:2010s German-language albums Category:Metal Blade Records albums Category:Albums about climate change Category:Environmental songs Category:Anthropocene