US death metal titans Six Feet Under have chosen the “Next To Die”…….
Formed in 1993 originally as a side project for long-time death metal pioneer Chris Barnes as a change-up from the fast pace of Cannibal Corpse for a more groovy heavy project. Releasing one of the best debuts in death metal history with “Haunted” in 1995, & creating the blueprint of SFU’s sound & the beginning chapter of their legacy.
Now, with the band’s 15th album & third with reunited guitarist Jack Owns (ex-Cannibal Corpse & Deicide), it feels like the band has had a new lease of life in the past few years. 2024’s “Killing for Revenge” was a refresh for the band, filled with some of the band’s best-written & best-recorded material in their latter discography.
“Next To Die”, the next step in the band’s history, sees the band have some fun when writing the album. Owens stated, “It started as an album full of death metal songs with speed and aggression. Then Chris had the brilliant idea to keep half of those death-metal songs and add some groovier songs in the vein of early Six Feet Under material. Chris emphasised tempo, so keeping with the beats per minute for early SFU classics”.
So having two sides of an album creates a great dynamic for this release. The opening track, “Approach Your Grave,” gets the groove started right from the first few seconds—no thrills, no fancy intros, straight to the killing. With big, heavy chords & brutal palm-mute chugs, this track feels like a bulldozer ploughing right over you. A simple but perfect stomping style groove takes you & runs. It’s heavy, balls to the wall with its tone, a perfect opening track.
Right off the rip, everything sounds great. Barnes is the clearest, but also the most barbaric, he’s sounded on the last few albums. Owen’s signature songwriting is shown here. His ability to write tight grooves is unmatched. Drums by Marco Pitruzzella really drive the track too. His great use of tom fills & to keep the laid-back feel when needed, then really ramp up the hits when it’s needed—a great backbone of the track.
“Mister Blood and Guts” turns the notch up & still keeps that groove feel but increases the intensity & tempo. Not breakneck speed, but enough to give the track a frantic feeling. It’s a very relenting track. Featuring a great solo lick from guitarist Ray Suhy, this track adds another gear to the killing machine.
Giving me a big “Haunted” & “Warpath” era feel, “Unmistakable Smell of Death” plays around with its songwriting, using different dynamics & tempos to create a really diverse track. With its cymbal stabs & punchy riff hits before unleashing into a sea of tremolo riffs, this one has a great wave-like feel throughout. Moments of fast-paced violence, then hard-hitting drum accents, follow the guitar riffs to create this great synchronicity.
The bass on this track by Jeff Hughell plays a great part. When the song reaches the bridge, Hughell’s thick but precise bass tone punches & has its own time to breathe. Throughout the track & the album, his bass tone has enough attack to take its own space in the mix, but it also blends well with the guitar tone for a two-pronged feel, keeping the sound thick while retaining that classic clarity of early death metal records.
“Skin Coffins” might be my favourite SFU in recent years. This one really plays around with some great songwriting moments. It feels like it would fit perfectly on “Maximum Violence” with its heavy groove, but a great, steady tempo that gets the blood pumping. Somewhat anthemic in its feel & vibe. It’s very refreshing, but still hits you hard. It’s a headbanging anthem for sure!
If you love that fast-paced style of SFU, well, “Naked and Dismembered” has you covered. This one is like a rabid zombie. Some great blastbeat skills on show by Pitruzzella on this one, but it still has that bouncy, rhythmic feel that keeps it very memorable. But like I say, if you like your death metal sounding like a tornado, this one’s for you.
Closing track “Ill Wishes” is a great way to close out the album. At first, it feels like just a simple track, but quickly the song builds a strong sense of dread & unease. The band still drops an eerie bass line that hits your ears & gives you goosebumps, while Barne narrates in a cold, icy tone, invoking something that would feel right in an 80s slasher soundtrack. The one builds huge momentum & keeps that feeling as the band comes back in together on the chorus section with big power chords. The track will be a hidden gem, but I hope you seek it out, as it’s filled with great moments & really showcases what these trues still have to offer.
The last few moments of the track cranks up the brutality one more time for the final swing of the hatchet & leaves you soaked in blood, with a huge grin on your face from the carnage that has just unfolded.
Six Feet Under is a band that has always done things on its own terms. Never fallen to trends or strayed from the path. They have created some of the best & most overlooked albums in the death metal genre. “Next To Die” is another superb album joining the ranks with some of the best bands. It feels like a refreshing moment in the band’s catalogue, but also celebrates what makes them the unrelenting powerhouse they are.
Review: Joseph Mitchell
Next to Die is out via Metal Blade Records on the 24th April 2026
Six Feet Under is:
Chris Barnes – vocals
Jack Owen – rhythm and lead guitar
Ray Suhy – lead guitar
Jeff Hughell – bass
Marco Pitruzzella – drums
Discography:
Haunted (1995)
Warpath (1997)
Maximum Violence (1999)
True Carnage (2001)
Bringer of Blood (2003)
13 (2005)
Commandment (2007)
Death Rituals (2008)
Undead (2012)
Unborn (2013)
Crypt of the Devil (2015)
Torment (2017)
Nightmares of the Decomposed (2020)
Killing for Revenge (2024)
Next to Die (2026)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sixfeetunder
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisbarnes420/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sixfeetofficial
Cameo:https://www.cameo.com/5f244f9fffa53b00215fd081
Bandcamp: https://sixfeetunder.bandcamp.com/
