Benighted-Insane Cephalic Production (2003)

This is not some goddamn lost Insane Clown Posse album. Benighted are brutal death/grind professors from France, a band sporting intelligence and a unique way around a riff. Apparently a concept album abut child molestation, they do not take the usual exploitation turns that most other bands would with this subject matter, but inject an element of psychological horror, morality, and sensitivity(!). But the music is astoundingly good, by turns dense but light on its feet, so many twists and turns, so many well crafted riffs, all expertly bludgeoned at lightening speeds. This is state of the art death metal, an album that will take a few listens to absorb all it has to offer.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10