You don’t really think of Italy when you talk of extreme brutal death metal, this was a very big surprise for me in a good way upon receiving this album. Brutal death metal mixed with classical music has all the hallmarks of failure, however, when it is executed like this, it works very well.
Formed in Rome and formally known as Tyrannic Ethical Reconstruction, the band features current members of Hour Of Penance. These guys mix all the elements of metal masters Cannibal Corpse and Hate Eternal with the classical greats Johan Sebastian Bach and Beethoven. Why I hear you ask, trust me, it works. It’s not just the fact that you need the classical pieces to take a break from the pulverizing brutallity on offer, but it is tastefully done at the intro or outro stage of the tunes, not mixed with the tracks that much as I have heard some bands do which for me spoils it, not the case here. When the classical influences come out in the main music, its very metal, the scales themselves bring the classical musicianship into play just like the great Yngwie Malmsteen does. This is particularly prevalent on the soothing closing track ‘Oracles’ and the mind twisting torment of ‘Requiem in SI Minore’.
‘In Honour of Reason’ blows up your speakers from the outset once the nice little orchestral tune up finishes, the technical riffing reminds me of that amazing American band Braindrill, with a bit less chaos. The many guitar sweeps and dropped harmonics fall into the standard formula for this genre, maybe its just me or maybe these guys know something else, but it seems to bring a freshness that makes the hair on the back of you neck stand up and take notice. Looking at their website, they are involved with the artist Mark Riddick for t-shirt designs that look nice by the way! The vocals from Francesco Paoli bellow out their anti-religious teachings to great effect. The other members, who are also in the band Promaetheus Unbound, provide a solid back line with precise technical prowess.
There is not much more to say really, the clever integration of classical pieces with a brutal death metal that is surpassed only by the very few works extremely well, I for one will keep these tunes spinning for a long time to come. In short, a smack in the face of extreme death metal with the subtlety of classical movements thrown in just to see if you are ok, before pounding you into the dust again. Pure and simple, an Italian master class of this genre.
http://www.myspace.com/fleshgodapocalypse
http://www.willowtip.com/bands/details/fleshgod-apocalypse.aspx
