The Somatic Defilement is the debut studio album by American deathcore band Whitechapel. The album was released on July 31, 2007, through Candlelight Records and is their only release through this label before their move to Metal Blade the following year. It is the only album to feature guitarist Brandon Cagle.
| The Somatic Defilement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 31, 2007 April 16, 2013 (reissue) | |||
| Recorded | 2007 at The Sound Lair in Knoxville, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Deathcore[1] | |||
| Length | 31:59 | |||
| Label | Candlelight, Metal Blade (reissue) | |||
| Producer | Whitechapel, Miah Lajeunesse | |||
| Whitechapel chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Reissue cover | ||||
 The cover for the 2013 re-release of The Somatic Defilement. | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |    [2] |
| AllMusic | [3] |
| Rock Hard | 8/10[4] |
Overview
editThe Somatic Defilement is mostly a concept album based on Jack the Ripper, in which the majority of the songs are first-person narratives of the slaughter and rape of prostitutes. Only two songs are exceptions to this theme: vocalist Phil Bozeman specified that "Alone in the Morgue" is about "a coroner who is a demented necrophiliac" and "Festering Fiesta" is about Jeffrey Dahmer.[5] The intro track, "Necrotizing" also contains excerpts from a Stone Phillips interview with Dahmer.[6]
The album is the only one by Whitechapel to include Brandon Cagle as guitarist. He later left the band, because the injuries he received from a motorcycle accident left him unable to play his instrument. He was replaced by Zach Householder.[7]
Reissue
editA remixed and remastered edition of the album was released on April 16, 2013 through Metal Blade Records.[8] Re-mixing and re-mastering duties were given to Mark Lewis, whom the band worked with since their self-titled release.[9]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Necrotizing" | 0:35 |
| 2. | "The Somatic Defilement" | 5:19 |
| 3. | "Devirgination Studies" | 3:12 |
| 4. | "Prostatic Fluid Asphyxiation" | 3:33 |
| 5. | "Fairy Fay" | 3:33 |
| 6. | "Ear to Ear" | 3:30 |
| 7. | "Alone in the Morgue" | 2:53 |
| 8. | "Festering Fiesta" | 2:29 |
| 9. | "Vicer Exciser" | 2:52 |
| 10. | "Articulo Mortis" | 4:03 |
| Total length: | 31:59 | |
Personnel
edit- Whitechapel
- Phil Bozeman – vocals
- Ben Savage – lead guitar
- Alex Wade – rhythm guitar
- Brandon Cagle – third guitar
- Gabe Crisp – bass
- Kevin Lane – drums
- Production
- Production by Miah Lajeunesse and Whitechapel
- Mixing and engineering by Miah Lajeunesse
- Mastering by Alan Douches
- A&R by Jamie Graham
References
edit- ^ "The Somatic Defilement Metal Reviews". Metal Reviews. 9 August 2010.
- ^ "About.com review". About.com. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- ^ "Allmusic review". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- ^ "The Somatic Defilement". www.rockhard.de.
- ^ "Phil Bozeman explains the meaning of every Whitechapel track". killthemusic.net. Sep 6, 2011. Retrieved Jun 26, 2020.
- ^ Jeffrey Dahmer Interview - Extended Footage shown at YouTube.
- ^ www.metalunderground.com Whitechapel part ways with guitarist Brandon Cagle
- ^ "WHITECHAPEL "The Somatic Defilement" re-issue; music and pre-orders now on-line | Metal Blade Records".
- ^ "More Details Revealed for Whitechapel's Reissue of "The Somatic Defilement"". 13 November 2012.