What makes Maniaxe by Ghoul notable?

Maniaxe received positive reviews from critics for its high-energy tracks and inventive lyrical themes, helping solidify Ghoul's reputation in the death metal community. The album showcased their ability to combine humor with horror elements, influencing subsequent acts within the genre and contributing to the growth of ‘horror metal’ as a subgenre. Released in 2003, Maniaxe was Ghoul's second album, following their 2001 debut, and marked a deeper exploration into horror-themed lyrics and aggressive sound. At this point, the band had begun to establish themselves within the underground metal scene, gaining traction with their unique blend of genres and theatrical performance style.

How many songs are on Maniaxe?

Maniaxe has 10 tracks, running approximately 34 minutes.

Maniaxe

Ghoul · 2003

34 min · 10 tracks · death metal

A ferocious blend of death metal and thrash, Maniaxe unleashes relentless riffs with a darkly comedic edge.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Maggot Hatchery — This track exemplifies Ghoul's signature sound with its frenetic pace and grotesque imagery, effectively showcasing their blend of humor and horror.
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Sewer Chewer — With its catchy hooks and relentless riffing, this song highlights the band's knack for combining melody with brutality, making it a fan favorite.
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What a Wonderful World — Their twisted cover adds an ironic twist to the classic tune, encapsulating Ghoul's unique approach to songwriting and thematic exploration.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

51 /100

Foothills

Higher than 34% of albums we've rated

Maniaxe combines aggressive riffs with dark humor, showcasing Ghoul's distinctive style within death metal.

What we noticed

The album features rapid tempo shifts, with tracks like 'Maggot Hatchery' and 'Sewer Chewer' maintaining a relentless pace, while 'What a Wonderful World' serves as an unexpected, slower closer.
Lyrically, the songs blend horror themes with dark humor, evident in titles like 'Pleasant Screams' and 'Boneless', which contribute to the album's unique character.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Pleasant Screams / Forbidden Crypts 4:20
2 Maggot Hatchery 3:35
3 Sewer Chewer 3:39
4 Ghoul Hunter 3:55
5 Numbskull 3:26
6 Boneless 3:13
7 Maniaxe 3:19
8 Mechanized Death 3:32
9 The End? 2:58
10 What a Wonderful World 2:41

What to play next

Listen next

Splatterthrash

2006

Go back to

We Came for the Dead!!!

2002

Full Ghoul discography Artists like Ghoul

death metal thrash metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata