Death metal titans SIX FEET UNDER, led by the distinctive gurgling of vocalist Chris Barnes, is about to release its tenth studio album, Unborn — not even a year after 2012’s Undead. As with every SFU release, you know what you’re getting — brutal death metal. However, this might not be the SFU you were expecting. It’s still brutal in most places, but there’s also quite a bit of groove-based elements, progressive guitar melodies and acoustic segments within its 11 tracks, most notably on CD opener, Neuro Osmosis. It gives the band a dynamic they might not have had in the past, and some of these newly-founded elements may be due to the contributions of new band members, guitarist Ola Englund and bassist Jeff Hughell, as well as guest guitarists Jari Laine (TORTURE KILLER), Ben Savage (WHITECHAPEL) and Rob Arnold (ex-Six Feet Under). Snagging drummer Kevin Talley in 2011 was a brilliant move by Barnes, as his powerful dexterity and relentless double bass prowess keeps the rhythm section slamming. Barnes’ malicious barking is mostly decipherable — even by death metal standards — but it’s not as guttural as on his previous releases. The production is thick and clean and cuts right through like a razor-sharp machete. It’s not too over-polished and certainly doesn’t contaminate the death metal formula. If you thought SFU were down and out with nothing else to offer, or you just got tired of the umpteenth Graveyard Classics, then Unborn might change your mind about the band.