Ravenous by Carnage The Executioner / TERRELL X

Carnage The Executioner isn't afraid to speak his mind. But whether he's sparking controversy on “Minnesota Mean” (2016), or "saving the show by stealing it from you," on “The Show Saver” (2017) even his critical messages are often served with a smile.

Carnage returns with his most thoughtful, ambitious and self-aware statement to date: RAVENOUS.

The multi-angular Ravenous theme runs the gamut from hungry rap metaphors to a more literal dietary epiphany. The bar-heavy braggadocio is thick from the start, but this is not the same Carnage we've heard before.

"Not Just A Name" dissects the symbolism in a violent name, and the insatiable competitiveness that comes with it (see 2012's “Respect The Name” for the first helping), in contrast with his naturally positive demeanor offstage. "Book Me" and "It's Still Work" both offer fresh perspectives on what it means to be a "starving artist" in the music industry today.

Though content-driven and complex in delivery, Ravenous is the most palatable, and most musical release in the Carnage canon. The beats are melodic and energetic, boasting serious hooks to bolster the (mostly) heavy subject matter.

The Ravenous story concludes with a true account of C.XXXL's turn to veganism; a successful remedy for his long-term struggles with his weight and food addiction. It's a moment that would come off preachy in less competent hands, but Carnage puts the listener in his shoes instead.

The album is simultaneously easy to digest, while offering more layers to Carnage as a three-dimensional character. Still, Ravenous is best enjoyed with repeat listens. The arrangements routinely avoid repeated or copy/paste choruses, capitalizing on every opportunity to drive the narrative.

Ravenous is an achievement, not only in songwriting, but personal growth. It is, hands down, the crown jewel in an already enviable body of work.

<Review by Sammy Warm Hands>

Tracklist

1.	Live To Eat	3:34

2.	Do's & Don'ts	4:00

3.	Ravenous	3:23

4.	Not Just A Name	3:54

5.	More Hip-Hop Than You	3:20

6.	Maintain	3:35

7.	Results Vs. Numbers	2:45

8.	It's Still Work	2:38

9.	Book Me!	3:21

10.	...Prime Yet	2:54

11.	Success Story	2:59

12.	The Crew-torial	5:19

13.	Eat To Live	2:41

14.	Ravenous: A Retrospective	4:10

Credits

released May 13, 2019

<TRACKLIST + CREDITS>

01. LIVE TO EAT
prod: 8-bza
co-prod: Wesley Opus for Hopeful Opus Productions

02. DO’S & DON’TS
(f. Scatty Stormborn & Katana Da Don)
prod: SUB-P
co-prod: Wesley Opus

03. RAVENOUS
prod: King Karnov The Almighty Ruler for Castlehouse Worldwide, LLC

04. NOT JUST A NAME
prod: Big Jess for Big Jess Music

05. MORE HIP-HOP THAN YOU
prod: King Karnov The Almighty Ruler
guitar: Wesley Opus
scratches: Imaginary Friend

06. MAINTAIN
prod: 8-bza
bass: Ian Allison
synths: Wesley Opus, Tron Jovi

07. RESULTS VS. NUMBERS
prod: Merge Beats
co-prod: Wesley Opus

08. IT’S STILL WORK
prod: SUB-P
co-prod: Wesley Opus

09. BOOK ME!
prod: Medium Zach

10. ...PRIME YET
prod: Big Jess
co-prod: Wesley Opus

11. SUCCESS STORY
prod: Big Jess

12. THE CREW-TORIAL
(f. Capaciti, Katana Da Don, Taiyamo Denku, Sammy Warm Hands, DisputeOne, Knonam, Just Wulf, Articulate, Mohs, Ethin & Saurus K)
prod: West End Productions

13. EAT TO LIVE
prod: King Karnov The Almighty Ruler

14. RAVENOUS: A RETROSPECTIVE
prod: Big Jess
synths: Wesley Opus, Tron Jovi

Executive Producers: Maynard Terrell Woods/Carnage The Executioner (Hecatomb Industries), Justin Wulf/Just Wulf (The Wulf Den) & Jaron McDaniel (West End Productions).

All songs written, conceived, arranged, co-produced & performed by Maynard Terrell Woods (Executioner Style Music - ASCAP), except tracks 2 & 12 where additional writers are featured.

Additional vocal performances: Just Wulf - tracks 2, 3, 5, 9 & 12 / Capaciti - tracks 3, 4 & 12 / Justine “Just•Dope” Woods - tracks 4, 7 & 9 / Medium Zach - track 9.

“Ravenous” scratching at ends of even-numbered tracks performed by DJ X-Caliber.

Recorded & engineered by Just Wulf. Mixing & mastering by Jaron McDaniel & Rob Genadek (Brewhouse Studios). Additional mixing by Wesley Opus.

All project artwork, layouts and designs: Pat Jensen

Photos: Tanner Morris & Jaron McDaniel

Hecatomb Industries, LLC/Crushkill Recordings

License