The blasphemy will never end for Bliss of Flesh.
Five years after their last sacrifice, the band composed of Sikkardinal (guitar), J. Poizon (bass), Fleshstigma (drums), Necurat (vocals), and Victus (guitar) has signed with Black Lion Records for the release of their fifth album, Metempsychosis.
The album kicks off with A Loss, an introduction that is melancholic at first glance but eventually becomes heavy and dissonant before finally revealing catchy and melodious tones to join I Deny, which lets the vocals join the newly born fury. It’s easy to notice the carefully crafted harmonics that complement the raw and frantic rhythm, as well as the highly expressive vocals ranging from rage to theatrical imploration, and a few choruses that add extra depth to this visceral track, which is followed by the haunting Sacrifice. The atmosphere is calmer, almost gentle at times, but contrasted by fairly joyful drumming and heavy vocals, as well as plaintive choruses, raw accelerations, and finally a first, more soothing release before a final wave of hateful power. An unsettling piano welcomes us on If Only, joined by a few lines of German lyrics and finally some catchy Black’n’Roll riffs, to which a devastating blast beat is forcefully grafted while the vocalist returns to English to scream, only yielding to Goethe’s language again during the break. The final wave of violence is not long in coming, eventually becoming heady once more before Verdammt calms the spirits again, then the vocals bring a touch of anguish and distress, finally unleashing The Awakening and its piercing melodies integrated into a devastating basis in every respect. There is an Old School touch to the liveliest passages, but also ethereal harmonics that the guitars weave into the wave before giving way to Adieu, a composition with an evocative title that transcribes a certain more airy touch in its block of darkness and does not hesitate to summon all its influences to increase its sonic richness tenfold. The jerky rhythm suddenly cuts out, allowing the eponymous track Metempsychosis to take over, creating a more progressive approach between violence and majestic tones, while the melodies hypnotize us, lulling our minds assaulted by bellicose drums. The explosive flow eventually gives way to Martyr, the last track, where the band hits the ground running with fierce rhythms over which growls and leads respond to each other with fervor, leaving a lasting impression at the end of the album.
Bliss of Flesh had been rather discreet on the scene after the release of their previous work, but Metempsychosis is about to change that. The album is a veritable treasure trove of visceral darkness in the service of impure violence.
90/100
