So if Evocation’s recent Tales From the Tomb is the best Entombed/Left hand Path homage of the last few years, with Structures of Death, Germany’s Fleshcrawl have delivered the preeminent Dismember homage album.

Most death metal fans know that Fleshcrawl have been ripping off Dismember for their respectable, long but relatively undistinguished career, but on Structures of Death, they have really taken it to another level. I absolutely defy any one familiar with Dismember’s early work to listen to the opening strains of the album’s opening title track or it’s subsequent solos and not think of classic 90’s Dismember. Of course, once vocalist Sven Gross opens his mouth, the comparison isn’t as strong, as his deeper growls are far less unique than Matti Karki’s distinctive bellow, but with a superb Sunlight Buzz and layered, melodic take on classic, restrained and well written death metal, Fleshcrawl are pretty much a Dismember cover band.

That’s no disrespect to Fleshcrawl and to be honest considering much of Dismember’s latest offerings (post Hate Campaign), Fleshcrawl actually sound more like classic Dismember, than Dismember does. Midpaced tracks like “A Spirit Dressed in Black”, “Fleshcult”, “Rest In Pain” and closer “War of the Dead” (which all could have come from Massive Killing Capacity) as well as more intense Indecent and Obscene-like slabs like “Written in Blood”, “Nothing But Flesh Remains” and “About Mortality” make no bones about their influence, but do it well enough for it to be well worth your time.

In fact, I’ve been giving Structures of Death considerable more listens than say Where Ironcrosses Grow and The God That Never Was and now considering Fred Estby has left Dismember, it’s possible that Fleshcrawl may in fact surpass their peers as far as Swedish styled classic death metal.

[Visit the band's website]

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