Some death metal bands are overlooked, including early bands and those with solid discographies. Germany’s Fleshcrawl is among those bands, founded in 1991, with a sound that is largely influenced by the Stockholm death metal scene. The band has not enjoyed the widespread acclaim of its peers like Entombed, Grave, Dismember or Unleashed. However, Fleshcrawl deserves commendation for weathering the years amid setbacks and tragedies, including the death of longtime vocalist Sven Gross in 2021. Epitome of Carnage is the band’s tenth studio and its first release in seven years, a triumph in itself. The dozen tracks on Carnage feature Fleshcrawl delivering the grooving, grinding, melodic sound that is its trademark.
“Blood Dominion” is the opening track and initial single for Carnage. It is awash in crimson blast beats and churning guitar riffs from new guitarists Christian Kalbrecht and Apu Reisch. New vocalist Borisz Sarafutgynov has a low, guttural register that fits the music. The band sets into a groove on “Chapel Of Guts” with its sinister opening guitar line that abruptly transitions to a galloping tempo. Borisz sounds particularly menacing on this track, like a man possessed by a demon. The track’s second half as the band transitions from a doom laden riff to a a d-beat tempo with impish ease. “Grave Messiah” is a thrashing track with touch of Slayer and Entombed with the buzz saw riffing and speed. The diabolically regal galloping riff during the bridge heightens the fun brutality before drummer Bastian Herzog pounds the drums to conclude the track. ‘Embers of Wrath” is the album’s second single and the most “accessible” track with its mid-tempo and catchy riffing. I detect a whiff Bolt Thrower on this track, with its pummeling riff and baroque guitar line during the midsection. Bassist Manu Markowski shines with a bass interlude before the track ends. “Committed To Suffer” has a grooving, dark riff that immediately causes one to nod their head. Then, the band unleashes another plodding, evil riff. Then, the track concludes with a haunting bass solo. Things speed up on “Reign Forever”, which may or may not be a sly tribute to the seminal Slayer album, Reign In Blood. Whatever the case, this is no frills thrash tinged death metal, with am urgent, sorrowful riff that sounds like a stream of souls fleeing Hell.
“Chronicles Of Bloodshed” is a brief, haunting instrumental that allows the listener to break, while still retaining an unnerving atmosphere. “Rebuilt From Flesh” commences with a grooving double bass pattern that quickly speeds up. This track twists and turns, creating a feeling of being rebuilt from a pile of body parts. “Path of Thorns” could have closed the album due its length and quasi-epic feel. The song begins with a mysterious riff due to the Phrygian scale and shifts tempo several times from slow to fast. However, it never sounds clunky or awkward. The penultimate “Heralds of Death” is a rollicking number with its pugnacious double drums and mallet like riffs. Borisz lets out a vicious shriek during the track’s final third and the song concludes in manner as the Grim Reaper notches another win. Album closer “Of Fire and Flesh” continues the confident feel of “Heralds” as the band plays with a swagger as much death metal as it is groove metal.
Epitome of Carnage shows a band playing with confidence and ambition. Fleshcrawl set out to prove that despite the absence and three new members, the band is a force to be reckoned with. The musicianship is top notch, and the songwriting is just fine. The album’s length of 48 minutes is a little long for most death metal acts, but Fleshcrawl keep things interesting with dark riffs, speed and groove. The production is crisp with a vintage feel reminiscent of 90s Stockhold death metal albums. This album will satisfy fans of the band, death metalheads and folks into extreme music. Fleshcrawl are back and can still deliver the carnage.
Check out the band’s official website here: https://fleshcrawl.net/
