Violence Unimagined

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox album | name = Violence Unimagined | type = studio | artist = [[Cannibal Corpse]] | cover = Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined.jpg | alt = a silver-haired woman with a horrifying, toothy maw | released = {{Start date|2021|4|16}} | recorded = 2020 | studio = Mana Recording Studios, [[St. Petersburg, Florida]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cannibal-corpses-paul-mazurkiewicz-says-violence-unimagined-features-his-most-intense-drumming-performance-physically/|title=CANNIBAL CORPSE's PAUL MAZURKIEWICZ Says 'Violence Unimagined' Features His 'Most Intense Drumming Performance Physically'|date=February 21, 2021|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}</ref> | genre = [[Death metal]] | length = 42:48 | label = [[Metal Blade Records|Metal Blade]] | producer = [[Erik Rutan]] | prev_title = [[Red Before Black]] | prev_year = 2017 | next_title = [[Chaos Horrific]] | next_year = 2023 | misc = {{Singles | name = Violence Unimagined | type = studio | single1 = Inhumane Harvest | single1date = February 1, 2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2021/02/01/news/cannibal-corpse-to-release-new-album-violence-unimagined-in-april/|title=Cannibal Corpse To Release New Album "Violence Unimagined" In April|website=ThePRP|access-date=February 2, 2021|date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> | single2 = Murderous Rampage | single2date = March 23, 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jDySz1rfwI|title=Murderous Rampage|via=YouTube}}</ref> | single3 = Necrogenic Resurrection | single3date = April 19, 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/cannibalcorpse/posts/310183880475621|title=#NecrogenicResurrection • 4.19.2021 🔔: youtu.be/lxrmQZUFf3Q|via=Facebook}}</ref> }} {{Extra album cover | header = Alternate cover | type = studio | cover = Cannibal_Corpse_Violence_Unimagined_Alternate_Cover.jpg | border = | alt = Explicit cover art by Vince Locke shows a naked female cannibal tearing apart a baby after disemboweling two other victims. | caption = Alternate "Explicit" cover of Violence Unimagined }} }}

'''''Violence Unimagined''''' is the fifteenth studio album by American [[death metal]] band [[Cannibal Corpse]], released on April 16, 2021.<ref name=blabbermouth>{{Cite web|date=February 2, 2021|title=CANNIBAL CORPSE Announces 'Violence Unimagined' Album, Officially Recruits Guitarist ERIK RUTAN|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cannibal-corpse-announces-violence-unimagined-album-officially-recruits-guitarist-erik-rutan/|access-date=February 2, 2021|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]}}</ref>

It is the band's first album in nearly four years since ''[[Red Before Black]]'' (2017), the longest gap between two records in Cannibal Corpse's career, and the first studio album to feature producer [[Erik Rutan]] on lead guitar, replacing [[Pat O'Brien (guitarist)|Pat O'Brien]] in February 2021 after nearly two years of filling in for him on tour.<ref name=blabbermouth/><ref>{{cite news|date=January 18, 2019|title=CANNIBAL CORPSE Recruits Guitarist ERIK RUTAN For Upcoming Tours|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cannibal-corpse-recruits-guitarist-erik-rutan-for-upcoming-tours/|access-date=February 2, 2021|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]}}</ref>

==Background== Cannibal Corpse began writing for new material in 2019, and in 2020 the group began demos for ''Violence Unimagined''. In a new interview with ''Wall of Sound'', drummer [[Paul Mazurkiewicz]] spoke about [[Erik Rutan]] joining the band revealing: "He's a great guy, great worker, great guitar player. He wrote some great songs and it's been a challenge to play his stuff and fun to learn somebody else's take on what Cannibal Corpse would sound like in their eyes. It's been positive all round having him for sure."<ref>{{Cite web|last=walladmin|date=April 13, 2021|title=Paul Mazurkiewicz – Cannibal Corpse 'Crushing Cancel Culture & Censorship'|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2021/04/13/paul-mazurkiewicz-cannibal-corpse-inhumane-harvest-interview/|access-date=April 13, 2021|website=Wall Of Sound|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = ''Angry Metal Guy'' | rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beuller |first=Ferrous |date=2021-04-15 |title=Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined Review |url=https://www.angrymetalguy.com/cannibal-corpse-violence-unimagined-review/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Angry Metal Guy |language=en-US}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Blabbermouth.net]]'' | rev2score = 9/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gorania |first=Jay |date=2021-04-12 |title=Violence Unimagined |url=https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/violence-unimagined |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' | rev3score = B+<ref name="consequenceofsound">{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2021/04/album-review-cannibal-corpse-violence-unimagined/|title=Cannibal Corpse Expand Their Brutal Palate with Violence Unimagined: Review|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]|first=Joseph |last=Schafer|date=April 15, 2021|access-date=April 15, 2021}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Distorted Sound Magazine'' | rev4score = 8/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Fraser |date=2021-04-13 |title=ALBUM REVIEW: Violence Unimagined - Cannibal Corpse |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-violence-unimagined-cannibal-corpse/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Distorted Sound Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[Kerrang!]]'' | rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="kerrang">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-cannibal-corpse-violence-unimagined/|title=Album review: Cannibal Corpse – Violence Unimagined|website=[[Kerrang!]]|first=Nick |last=Ruskell|date=April 15, 2021|access-date=April 15, 2021}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[Metal Hammer]]'' | rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="LS review">{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/cannibal-corpse-violence-unimagined-album-review|title=Cannibal Corpse's Violence Unimagined: death metal legends gouge out a new classic|website=[[Metal Hammer|Louder Sound]]|first=Alec |last=Chillingworth|date=April 12, 2021|access-date=April 15, 2021}}</ref> | rev7 = ''[[Metal Injection]]'' | rev7score = 9/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stewart-Panko |first=Kevin |date=2021-04-15 |title=Album Review: CANNIBAL CORPSE Violence Unimagined |url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/cannibal-corpse-violence-unimagined |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref> | rev8 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' | rev8score = 7.3/10<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/cannibal-corpse-violence-unimagined/?hasha=89e4fadd3975c6daeed4a37b9eab9070&hashb=47bac691370bd8f60de4f24650bb1f22c0514601&hashc=abfc20ec553eac09a09ceb6d3eb2a583513dbcda4d649fc58f92b1d1243e9618|title=Cannibal Corpse: Violence Unimagined Album Review|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|first=Sam|last=Sodomsky|date=April 16, 2021|access-date=April 17, 2021}}</ref> | rev9 = ''[[PopMatters]]'' | rev9score = 7/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reyes-Kulkarni |first=Saby |date=2021-04-23 |title=Cannibal Corpse: Violence Unimagined {{!}} Music Review |url=https://www.popmatters.com/cannibal-corpse-violence-unimagined |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=PopMatters |language=en-US}}</ref> | rev10 = ''[[Sputnikmusic]]'' | rev10score = 3.8/5<ref name="Sputnikmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/83124/Cannibal-Corpse-Violence-Unimagined/|title=Cannibal Corpse – Violence Unimagined|website=Sputnikmusic|first=Fernando|last=Alves|date=April 13, 2021|access-date=April 15, 2021}}</ref> | MC = 79/100 }}

''Violence Unimagined'' received positive reviews from critics. Sean McLennan of ''New Noise Magazine'' wrote, "Continuously reinventing each album around creative new ways to kill or be killed, Cannibal Corpse continue their mission to spread global devastation through the dominant beast that is ''Violence Unimagined''. Marking the band's fifteenth release through [[Metal Blade Records]], the upcoming terror embodies every horrendous characteristic we've come to love about this band and then some. Instrumentally unstoppable and visually indescribable, ''Violence Unimagined'' sees Cannibal Corpse entering the post-pandemic world as the colossal conquerors of death metal."<ref>{{cite news|date=April 9, 2021|title=Album Review: Cannibal Corpse – Violence Unimagined|url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/album-review-cannibal-corpse-violence-unimagined/|access-date=April 10, 2021|work=New Noise Magazine}}</ref> ''Wall of Sound's'' Duane James praised the release (and inclusion of new guitarist [[Erik Rutan]]) giving it a 9/10 and revealing, "these icons of death metal have once again risen above and delivered a rock solid classic"<ref>{{Cite web|last=walladmin|date=April 16, 2021|title=Cannibal Corpse – Violence Unimagined (Album Review)|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2021/04/16/cannibal-corpse-violence-unimagined-album-review/|access-date=April 16, 2021|website=Wall Of Sound|language=en-US}}</ref>

''[[Loudwire]]'' called it one of the best metal albums of 2021.<ref name="Loudwire">{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/best-rock-metal-albums-2021/|title=The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021|website=[[Loudwire]]|date=December 10, 2021|access-date=December 10, 2021}}</ref>

===Accolades=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Publication ! Accolade ! Rank |- !scope="row"|''[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]'' | Top 30 Metal & Hard Rock Albums | {{center|24<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2021/12/top-metal-hard-rock-albums-2021/|title=Top 30 Metal & Hard Rock Albums|publisher=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]|date=December 15, 2021|access-date=December 19, 2021}}</ref>}} |- !scope="row"|''[[Decibel (magazine)|Decibel]]'' | Top 40 Albums of 2021 | {{center|20<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2021/11/18/spoiler-here-are-decibels-top-40-albums-of-2021/| title=Spoiler: Here Are Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2021|publisher= [[Decibel (magazine)|Decibel]]|date=November 18, 2021|access-date=December 19, 2021}}</ref>}} |- !scope="row"|''[[Loudwire]]'' | The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021 | {{center|19<ref name="Loudwire"/>}} |}

==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = | total_length = 42:48 | title1 = Murderous Rampage | music1 = Barrett | length1 = 4:07 | title2 = Necrogenic Resurrection | lyrics2 = Webster | music2 = Webster | length2 = 3:06 | title3 = Inhumane Harvest | lyrics3 = Barrett | music3 = Barrett | length3 = 4:32 | title4 = Condemnation Contagion | lyrics4 = Rutan | music4 = Rutan | length4 = 4:17 | title5 = Surround, Kill, Devour | lyrics5 = Webster | music5 = Webster | length5 = 4:10 | title6 = Ritual Annihilation | lyrics6 = Rutan | music6 = Rutan | length6 = 3:48 | title7 = Follow the Blood | music7 = Barrett | length7 = 4:39 | title8 = Bound and Burned | lyrics8 = Barrett | music8 = Barrett | length8 = 4:04 | title9 = Slowly Sawn | lyrics9 = Webster | music9 = Webster | length9 = 3:30 | title10 = Overtorture | lyrics10 = Rutan | music10 = Rutan | length10 = 2:28 | title11 = Cerements of the Flayed | lyrics11 = Mazurkiewicz | music11 = Webster | length11 = 4:07 | lyrics1 = Mazurkiewicz | lyrics7 = Barrett }}

==Personnel== ===Cannibal Corpse=== The members of Cannibal Corpse are as follows:<ref>(2021), Sharma Amit, https://www.guitarworld.com/features/erik-rutan-on-joining-death-metal-titans-cannibal-corpse-its-still-kinda-surreal-i-never-foresaw-this-happening|access date March 18, 2021</ref> * [[George Fisher (musician)|George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher]] – lead vocals * [[Erik Rutan]] – lead guitar, backing vocals on "Murderous Rampage" * [[Rob Barrett]] – rhythm guitar * [[Alex Webster]] – bass * [[Paul Mazurkiewicz]] – drums

===Additional personnel=== * [[Vince Locke]] – artwork<ref name=blabbermouth/>

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Violence Unimagined'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2021-04-26|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|date=April 26, 2021|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> | 28 |- {{album chart|Austria|5|artist=Cannibal Corpse|album=Violence Unimagined|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|51|artist=Cannibal Corpse|album=Violence Unimagined|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|101|artist=Cannibal Corpse|album=Violence Unimagined|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardCanada|53|artist=Cannibal Corpse|rowheader=true|access-date=April 27, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|52|artist=Cannibal Corpse|album=Violence Unimagined|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2021}} |- ! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/albumit/2021/16/|title=Albumit 16/2021|publisher=[[Musiikkituottajat]]|language=fi|access-date=April 25, 2021}}</ref> | 12 |- {{album chart|France|132|M|url=http://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=16?&annee=2021&categorie=Top%20Albums|title=Top Albums (Week 16, 2021)|publisher=[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|SNEP]]|artist=Cannibal Corpse|album=Violence Unimagined|rowheader=true|access-date=April 26, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Germany|6|id=474398|artist=Cannibal Corpse|album=Violence Unimagined|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2021}} |- ! scope="row"| Italian Albums ([[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|FIMI]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/archivio-classifiche-settimanali/archivio-classifiche-per-settimana/?tipo=2&anno=2021&settimana=16|title=Album – Classifica settimanale WK 16 (dal 16.4.2021 al 22.4.2021)|publisher=[[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana]]|language=it|access-date=April 24, 2021}}</ref> | 60 |- {{album chart|Oricon|105|M|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/56301/rank/album/|title=カンニバル・コープスのアルバム売上ランキング|publisher=[[Oricon]]|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Poland|27|id=1359|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|9|date=20210423|rowheader=true|access-date=April 24, 2021}} |- ! scope="row"| Swedish Hard Rock Albums ([[Sverigetopplistan]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/93?dspy=2021&dspp=16|title=Veckolista Hårdrock, vecka 16|language=sv|publisher=[[Sverigetopplistan]]|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> | 1 |- ! scope="row"| Swedish Physical Albums ([[Sverigetopplistan]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/234?dspy=2021&dspp=16|title=Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 16|language=sv|publisher=[[Sverigetopplistan]]|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> | 5 |- {{album chart|Switzerland|7|artist=Cannibal Corpse|album=Violence Unimagined|rowheader=true|access-date=April 25, 2021}} |- {{album chart|UK2|81|date=20210423|rowheader=true|access-date=April 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|UKIndependent|2|date=20210423|rowheader=true|access-date=April 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|UKRock|4|date=20210423|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|45|artist=Cannibal Corpse|rowheader=true|access-date=April 27, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|5|artist=Cannibal Corpse|rowheader=true|access-date=April 27, 2021}} |- ! scope="row"| Billboard Top Albums ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/eric-church-third-no-1-billboard-top-album-sales-chart-heart/ |title=Metal band Cannibal Corpse notches its best sales week yet & first top 10 on Top Album Sales No. 6|language=en|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=April 27, 2021}}</ref> | 6 |- {{album chart|BillboardHardRock|3|artist=Cannibal Corpse|rowheader=true|access-date=April 27, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRock|6|artist=Cannibal Corpse|rowheader=true|access-date=April 27, 2021}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Cannibal Corpse}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2021 albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by Erik Rutan]] [[Category:Cannibal Corpse albums]] [[Category:Metal Blade Records albums]]