Easily one of the most notorious releases in death metal history, Joe Black by Malevolent Creation seems to have taken on a lot of insults since it's release. But, of course, some people refuse the believe the hype and think "Oh, hey, look, a cheap death metal CD used!" and just have to buy it. That's how this CD came to this site, and proof that sometimes, when a CD has a very well known bad reputation, it's best to listen.
The first three songs on this release are alright. "Joe Black" is perhaps the better one of the group, being a little more of a stand out track with better drumming and guitar work. The other three, "Self-Important Freak" and "Sadistic Perversity" really aren't anything special. That is until you hear the rest of this compilation. The next set of tracks on here are "remixes" of some of Malevolent Creation's best tracks. And by remix, it's meant that it was turned into industrial-esque techno music in the vein of Fear Factory's "remixes". They sound awful, especially the guitars at the end of "No Salvation" when the just cut out for a random noise, then continue, cut out, random noise, repeat until done. "To Kill (Remix)" is perhaps the most tolerable of the bunch as it still holds a tenacious sound to it, whereas the others will make you want to grab the nearest glowsticks, perhaps even swallow the toxic chemicals inside.
The real irony of this release is that, excluding the cover of "Raining Blood", which is absolute garbage with it's overmodulation of the guitars that sounds like a bad static sound effect, and rather poor attempt to convert it to a death metal influenced thrash track, they are easily the best tracks on this compilation, and they are the demo versions! Yes, you read right, the best tracks on here go back to the start of the band's career, and show off just how good they were back in the day when they were just a straight forward death metal act. Everything on "Genetic Affliction" just sounds fluid and flows together perfectly, where as everything else on this album seems to have a rushed or filler feel to it. "Remnants Of Withered Decay" and "Impaled Existence" close off the compilation, and it's shocking hearing Malevolent Creation with an old school NWOBHM [New Wave Of British Heavy Metal] death metal feel to them. It's sad that this band didn't stick with this style.
So, aside the demo tracks and title track, this release is pathetic. Judging by the material on this release, either Malevolent Creation was either cashing in on their fans, or experimenting with becoming the next Fear Factory as far as the remixes go. This release just doesn't live up to it's terrible reputation. Take it from someone who didn't believe the negative hype: It's all far too real, and far too atrocious...
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