Flesh Consumed
Ecliptic Dimensions Of Suffering ()
Wydane przez Unique Leader RecordsRok wydania Kraj USANapisał Wouter7
In the last couple of years a lot of the longer established California death metal formations have been undergoing a particularly remarkable evolution, seemingly setting a trend for their younger peers to slavishly follow and emulate. Earlier bands such as Cattle Decapitation, Decrepit Birth, Deeds Of Flesh, Odious Mortem, Severed Savior and Vile have shed the more restrictive shackles of the death metal genre, opting for an altogether more progressive, technical and sophisticated approach in both music and lyrical concept. Like sister-band Brain Drill (with who they share drummer Ron Casey) Flesh Consumed sound ever more busy with torrents of finger-twisting riffs, headspinning dynamics, the lone lead/solo (provided by Arkaik axe-man Craig Peters) and machinegun drumming that leaves no space for a breather. The majority of the material barely reaches the three minutes mark and only two cuts surpass four minutes in length. Three interludes ('Forever Chained', 'Valleys Of Rust' and 'Doomed') and an outro provide much requested variety and solace in between the aural assault this record offers. Providing recognizable guest vocals are Erik Lindmark (Deeds Of Flesh, on 'Devoid Of Skin'), Luc Lemay (Gorguts, on 'Caverns Of the Disembodied') and Matti Way (ex-Disgorge, ex-Cinerary, Pathology on 'Forever Chained', 'Succumbed to Dementia' and 'Staring Into the Abyss') giving this record a much needed boost in marketability. Unlike the earlier mentioned veteran institutions Flesh Consumed remain largely within the gore/horror type subjects usually associated with this genre, although track such as 'Imprisoned Between Dimensions', 'Beneath the Pendulum' and 'Immortality Through Infinite Consciousness' hint at far more elaborate and interesting subject matter. As per usual is the high end production by in-house engineer Zach Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios (Brain Drill, Decrepit Birth, Immolation, Suffocation) a masterfully executed one. The artwork by underground tattoo artist Jon Zig is okay, but nothing to write home about. While far more detailed than his usual horror-based pieces, it is no match for the classic paintings of Dan Seagrave, Kristian Wahlin, Michael Whelan or Andreas Marschall.
www.uniqueleader.com
