Holy hell.
2008 saw tech death metal explode with the likes of Origin, Decrepit Birth, Brain Drill, Trigger the Bloodshed, Severed Savior, Psycroptic and such; a year hard to top right? Well, 2009 already has seen brilliant releases from Obscura and Ulcerate as well as solid releases from Inevitable End, Gory Blister, Trigger the Bloodshed and this fantastic debut album from Italy’s Fleshgod Apocalypse.
And that’s before the new Gorod drops.
Though the band plays the expected intricate, yet brutal form of technical death metal that many of the bands mentioned already have perfected and Fleshgod Apocalypse are certainly as good as anything on that list – including the Obscura. But what sets Fleshgod Apocalypse apart from other tech death acts is the inclusion of more neo-classically inspired structures and guitar work and the injection of some majestic classical orchestral moments and solos into the songs. These well placed classical/orchestral moments reminded me a lot of The Monolith Deathcults’s (criminally underrated) Trivmvirate.
These stellar moments (“In Honour of Reason”, “As Tyrants Fall”, “Sophistic Demise”, standouts “Requiem in RJ Minore” and “Retrieving My Carcass”, “Oracles”) also give the swathe of destruction some hint of intellect and individuality which is good as Oracles hasn’t quite got the sheer memorability or catchy, melodic factor of Cosmogenesis or Diminishing Between Worlds as only “Embodied Deception” and “Infection of the White Throne” seemed to stick beyond the classical moments and solos on a purely riff based, tech death metal basis. That being said the bulk of the material is still absolutely breathtaking, in both savagery and complexity and likely as good as anything you will hear in 2009. Drummer Francesco Paoli (Hour of Penance) is particularly stunning and the production is ridiculously tight and the only elements that are remotely average is the gruff monotone vocal delivery of bassist Paulo Rossi and his virtually unheard bass work (other than a brief spurt in “Embodied Deception”), but that maybe simply be a side effect of the bass work on Obscura’s Cosmogenesis.
Even with those relatively minor complaints, Oracles absolutely blew me away with it’s mix of savage brutality and intricate, classical undertones and while Oracles lacks the sheer mindfuckery of Ulcerate’s Everything Is Fire, both albums, along with Cosmomgenesis will arguably be considered the very best of 2009s death metal efforts, technical or otherwise.
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Fuck yes Gorod!
on Apr 16th, 2009 at 07:50Yeah, this sounds like something I would certainly get into, thanks so much for the review and for informing me about them.
on Apr 16th, 2009 at 08:50Hell yeah!!! I’m glad to see this get such a good review. I’ve been waiting for willowtip to release this for awhile now. It will be mine!!!
on Apr 16th, 2009 at 09:15If you like this you should check out the new Hour of Penance release. The 2 bands share members and are both amazing. What is it with Italy all of a sudden?
on Apr 16th, 2009 at 10:39Wow. This is war more brutal than I was expecting. I’m still not a fan of the standard tech-death production method being used here (mega-clicky drums, vocals too high), but this has infinitely more aggression than Obscura’s debut. More brutal death metal riffing, less atonal limp-wristed noodling.
Nice Gorod mention btw. I think I’ve said it about a thousand times on this site but ‘Leading Vision’ is my fave tech-death ever. All shall be measured against this alter. Anyone who isn’t excited go check out their Myspace and listen to their new track ‘Disavow Your God.’
on Apr 16th, 2009 at 18:11Damn! My copy still hasn’t arrived!
on Apr 16th, 2009 at 19:55This is killer! Great review!
on Apr 16th, 2009 at 23:34Sounds like a winner, thanks for the heads up.
on Apr 18th, 2009 at 09:36WOW holy fucking shit!!! I’m glad I read this review because this release has quickly catapulted to near the top of my current favorites! It’s every bit as good as the last Hour of Penance only different! FUUUUUCK!!!
Every time I listen to it I feel compelled to burst out into uncontrolled fits of profanity. Absolutely amazing. Brutal, heavy as shit, melodic, classical, creative…you name it, this release has got it. I can’t get enough.
on Apr 22nd, 2009 at 00:08Awesome review Erik!Nice to see somebody mention Trivmvirate as its certainly worthy of praise.
Haha Dan nice to see another Gorod worshiper,I fap regularly to their cd’s and new track….much to the suprise of my girl.Both cd’s are phenomenal but I still enjoy Neurotripsticks a little more,but if the new cd is as good as the new track I may have a new fav.
I can’t wait to hear this whole cd(Oracles),I remember importing their demo when they first anounced it back in 2k6 I think it was.I’m going to O.D. on my fav genre this year….
on Apr 24th, 2009 at 12:25