Jack Owen has had an insane career in death metal. Owen was one of the original members of Cannibal Corpse (and played for the band between 1988 and 2004), played in Deicide between 2004 and 2016, and has been in Six Feet Under between 2017 and present day.

Now 20 years out from his days in Cannibal Corpse, Owen has a pretty fond outlook on their 1994 album (and final effort with original vocalist Chris Barnes) The Bleeding. In an interview with Heavy New York, Owen said it’s his favorite album and credits its success to just being better songwriters and musicians.

“It’s almost a commercial evolution in death metal songwriting, because Tomb was abrasive and brutal,” said Owen as transcribed by Metal Injection. “[It had] ‘Entrails Ripped From A Virgin’s Cunt’ and all that stuff. We had a little more time and we were in a haunted house riding all winter. I’m not sure what caused that evolution. Maybe so much touring and getting better on our instruments, and realizing that our songwriting was a little more important at that point. It’s my favorite album. I can listen to that like, any day.”

Owen continued: “Those first four albums are all completely unique in their own respects. Eaten is thrashy, Butchered is overwritten but in a good way, Tomb is abrasive and violent, and then The Bleeding was like ‘okay slow it down and concentrate.”

As for modern death metal, Owen gave a shout out to Necrot and their recently released album Lifeless Birth. Which on a personal note, I also strongly suggest everyone go listen to.

“I’m waiting for the Necrot. I’m just sitting here waiting for the album. I played ‘Drill The Skull’ like, a hundred time so far.” Owen later added on Necrot: “People are like, ‘they sound like Autopsy.’ I’m like yeah, but a little bit better.”