The Somatic Defilement
The Somatic Defilement is the first album by the 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 | |||
| Length | 31:59 | |||
| Label | Candlelight, Metal Blade (reissue) | |||
| Producer | Whitechapel, Miah Lajeunesse | |||
| Whitechapel chronology | ||||
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| Reissue cover | ||||
 The cover for the 2013 re-release of The Somatic Defilement. | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |    |
| AllMusic | |
| Rock Hard | 8/10[3] |
Overview
The 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. However, vocalist Phil Bozeman has stated that "Alone In The Morgue" is about "a coroner who is a demented necrophiliac", and "Festering Fiesta" is about Jeffrey Dahmer.[4]
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.[5] The intro track, "Necrotizing" contains excerpts from a Stone Phillips interview with Jeffrey Dahmer.[6]
Reissue
A remixed and remastered edition of the album was released on April 16, 2013 through Metal Blade Records.[7] Re-mixing and re-mastering duties were given to Mark Lewis, whom the band worked with since their self-titled release.[8]
Track listing
| 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
- Whitechapel
- Phil Bozeman – vocals
- Ben Savage – lead guitar
- Brandon Cagle – second guitar
- Alex Wade – rhythm 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
- "About.com review". About.com. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- "Allmusic review". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/whitechapel-the-somatic-defilement_290109.html
- "Phil Bozeman explains the meaning of every Whitechapel track". killthemusic.net. Sep 6, 2011. Retrieved Jun 26, 2020.
- www.metalunderground.com Whitechapel part ways with guitarist Brandon Cagle
- Jeffrey Dahmer Interview - Extended Footage shown at YouTube.
- http://www.metalblade.com/us/news/whitechapel-the-somatic-defilement-re-issue/
- http://www.theprp.com/2012/11/13/news/more-details-revealed-for-whitechapels-reissue-of-the-somatic-defilement/
