It seems that Relapse Records has found a way around their own golden rule never to sign any black metal band ever; by collaborating with the notorious Baphomet/Housecore label (ran by Killjoy and Phil Anselmo) they can still say they don`t have a black band in their roster! But for a band like Gorelord they would have to feel no shame - no shame at all.

If there`s anyone feeling ashamed, it should be each one of those million lame black bands out there, trying to be more `true` than the other - whatever that may mean. Gorelord manages to outrank almost every one of them with their debut album Force Fed On Human Flesh. Existing of basically just one person, Frediablo, and backed by the odd number of musicians (Jehmod from Bloodthorn as well as Killjoy and his own wife) he creates nine songs in the lyrical vein of old Impetigo and Cannibal Corpse, dealing with everything in the range from autopsy, corpses, necrophilia and zombies. But this `gore`-concept is not just present in the music itself. There`s the album front/back-cover, which has been set up in every way possible to have the appeal of movie artwork, including a `Strong Uncut Version` and `18+ Warning` sticker. Besides that, another very strong point is the interconnection of each of the songs, making the album one steady flow interluded by obscure movie samples for some extra atmosphere.

Back on the subject of the musical content, Frediablo can be given the credit of being one of the first to `steal` from a lot of sources, but making the result more interesting than a lot of the originals. The most apparent influences on Force Fed On Human Flesh are the more technical black bands of which I should name Emperor as the one that struck me most. But there`s also a not-so-slight hint at the death scene, and the bass/drum-sound is _very_ closely related to that of Behemoth`s latest album. Another source that has been wisely counselled is the sludge-scene, which is obvious when the hyperfast pieces are followed-up by "Necrophilic Orgy In Entrails & Cum", which could have found its origins in Sludge`s studio.

Wrapping up my opinion of this album, I can safely say that this is the most interesting black release of the year, together with the Behemoth Thelema.6 album which I would file under `death`. Gorelord, in being basically a one-person band, has managed to spawn forth a debut album that EASILY outranks the disappointing new Emperor opus.