"Culinary Pathology" by Exhumed is a song that delves into themes of grotesque, morbid fascination with the process of decay and decomposition. The lyrics depict the graphic and repulsive imagery associated with the decomposition of a human body. Words like "pyosisification" (the formation of pus) and "posthumous gangrene" (gangrene occurring after death) set the tone for the song's macabre subject matter. The narrator describes the putrid stench of decomposing bowels and the foetor (foul odor) emanating from a crepitated (cracked or burst) spleen. The opening lines highlight the grotesque nature of the song, emphasizing the disgust-factor associated with these concepts. The chorus continues to describe the disgusting state of the body, with phrases like "abdominal cavity's a sticky mess" and "purulent cadaveric waste" painting a vivid picture of the internal decomposition process. These lines suggest a morbid fascination or obsession with the repulsive aftermath of death. The following verses become more graphic and disturbing, incorporating elements of cannibalism and consuming the decaying flesh. The lyrics talk about "slurping the pyostic goulash" and feasting on "sticky pustulated suppuration" (pus-filled sores). The narrator describes the alcoholic dissolution (being drunk) as their "necrotic thirsts" are sloppily quenched, implying a twisted enjoyment in experiencing such macabre phenomena. The final lines describe the narrator impaling their victims and consuming their decomposed bodies as a grotesque meal, serving their blood-soaked trunk on a dinner plate. The song concludes with the line "Impaled through a life of gore and extreme hate," perhaps alluding to a deranged individual who finds pleasure and meaning in their gruesome actions. Overall, "Culinary Pathology" explores the theme of extreme fascination with the macabre and the visceral aspects of death and decay. The song uses graphic, stomach-turning imagery to emphasize the morbid obsession and dark sensibilities of the narrator.
