Effectively a two-man super-group, Fleshwrought consists of multi-instrumentalist Navene Koperweis (from US deathcore/deathgrind band Animosity), and Job For A Cowboy vocalist Jonny Davy. This is their first release, and incredibly intense it is too!
Fleshwrought seem to be described by most people as experimental, technical death metal, and this moniker fits very well indeed. A very first listen reveals that `technical US death metal’ sound instantly - the production is highly polished and somewhat clinical, every instrument is as clear as a bell, and the drums in particular seem to jump straight out of the speakers with malicious intent. Jonny’s vocals range from guttural brutality to insane throaty screams, and are also very clearly produced – almost enough to make out some of the lyrics! Whether you love or hate JFAC, it’s hard to deny that his vocals really pack a punch on this album – the brutal vocals are powerful and face-melting, and the more throaty vocals are sharp and intense enough to strip the wallpaper with.
As for the music itself... it’s difficult to know where to start. One thing that is in no doubt; Navene Koperweis is an exceedingly talented musician. Not only can he thump those tubs with great technicality and skill, he can also churn out some incredible, technical, brutal riffs as well as some jaw-dropping musical moments on guitar, bass and whatever else you’ve got! There is even a saxophone solo on `Inner Thoughts’!
If you were to take a random sample from various places in the album, everyone would indeed be pleased by what they found. The brutal, technical death metal fans would find some great brutal riffs and blasting, intense drums (along with Jonny’s guttural vocals), guitar enthusiasts would find some amazing sweeping solos and unbelievably dextrous noodling, prog fans would find all sorts of tripped-out oddness, drifting musical passages (and a saxophone solo!) and power metal fans... would be disappointed! What I’m getting at here is that, divided into its different parts, this is an extremely impressive piece of work that theoretically should please a whole swathe of different extreme metal fans.
Here is the big BUT – I’m not convinced that this concoction works very well. I cannot find a single hook in the entire album, and as a result it is difficult to maintain an interest all the way through – the album eventually washes over you without leaving much of an impression. Yes, it is technical, brutal and progressive but nothing seems to gel very well – taken on their own the brutal sections sound good, and so do the genuinely odd progressive parts (saxophones, weird keyboard noises, sounds that reminds me of ancient kids program The Clangers, eastern sounding scales etc), as well as the occasional injection of heavy, melodic riffs but mixed altogether in such a haphazard way it all sounds confusing and eventually rather boring.
The only people I can think of who would enjoy everything about this album are those who like to listen to Severed Saviour, Necrophagist, King Crimson and a sound effects album all at the same time. Everyone else may find this album confusing, and rather difficult to get into.
http://www.myspace.com/fleshwrought
