It is interesting to see how a band who has not released new material for a significant period of time – twenty-four years in the case of Midlands (UK) Death Metallers Cancer  – will react to the task. As we know, Carcass, the test case, was an overwhelming success as Surgical Steel (Nuclear Blast) refined their previous styles into a singular, focused direction of travel with added bite. Subsequently, At The Gates also returned with a show of strength, albeit with a more reflective tone to this year’s output; once again, an alteration to previous ideas was the way forward for that troupe. Both acts showed deference to their seminal works, choosing not to take them head-on, referring to their past with respect, while carving a newer niche.

Cancer, however, have jumped back to the style of their “classic” first three albums as Shadow Gripped (Peaceville) looks to pick up the rotten intestine reigns from whence The Sins of Mankind (Vinyl Solution) deposited them. It would appear that everyone agrees that forgetting Black Faith (EastWest) is the right thing to do.

And Shadow Gripped does indeed have the sound, feel and menace to have been the natural successor to …Mankind. While the opening strains of the album are wearing a discordant hue, it isn’t long until matters are brought to the nub and hub of what Cancer is as and does as the album barrels into a groove-heavy, predominantly mid-tempo bloodied slew of old school Death Metal.

Construct the Venn diagram of Death Metal and Cancer were always slap bang right in the centre; technically proficient musicians, but more intent on hitting lurching grooves with a growled hook than being the leaders in any one particular sub-sub field. All of which means Shadow Gripped is a very enjoyable listen indeed. John Walker’s growl and riffing idiosyncrasies are all showcased, while Carl Stokes penchant for groove over blast (the right way to do things, basically) brings out the sub-conscious nodding dog in us all.

For a moment, when the mid-album pairing of ‘The Infocidal’ and ‘Half Man Half Beast’ pick up some pace and deliver with genuine heft, it feels like Shadow Gripped is going to go somewhere special, but in the main, this is a decent steak and onion pie (plus gravy and two veg) of an album that does exactly what it needs to in a solid and pleasing way.

6.5/10

STEVE TOVEY