Back in the early ’10s, when yours truly really began to sprint down the metal path, I was as eager to discover new, up and coming metal bands as I was the heroes of yesteryear. Sure, my heart lay closest to the veterans I was introduced to via my dad and VH1 Classic. However, thanks to outlets like iTunes Genius (remember that?) and Music Choice’s Metal channel, I was introduced to a plethora of modern acts, one of them being Skeletonwitch. Fusing black, death, and thrash metal together with fervent chaos, Skeletonwitch offered something for everyone, which lead to their widespread appeal throughout these years.
Now why on earth am I talking about Skeletonwitch? Because their drummer during these glory days was one Mr. Dustin Boltjes. Despite leaving Skeletonwitch in 2018 (which, in his defense, is when a lot of the band’s fanbase started to jump ship), Boltjes has kept busy with his fair share of bands and projects. He fronts traditional metallists Sacred Leather, holds down the beat for post-black metal collective Chrome Waves, partook in the all too brief Demiricous reunion, and now comprises 1/3 of today’s featured power trio in review, Flesher.
Formed just last year, Flesher are striking while the iron is hot with their debut album, Tales of Grotesque Demise. True to its title and cover art, it is one grotesque album which, if nothing else, stays true to the spirit of death metal. The opening “Wisconsin” is as grizzly an opener one could ask for, coupling the bludgeoning force of Cannibal Corpse with the slime-coated scuzz of Entombed. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have high expectations, especially when being confronted with hook-driven Bloodbath-esque anthems like “Creature Beast” and “The Gates”. Nothing wrong with a little Nightmares Made Flesh worship!
Unfortunately, come the album’s second half, it becomes apparent that Flesher have one speed and they’re sticking to it. Now if you’re head over heels for midtempo death metal and brainless, knuckle-dragging riffs ad nauseam, you’ll be in heaven when blasting this one over your stereo. While these songs are indeed good, they are simply that and nothing more. Sure, I can appreciate the absurdity of cuts like “No Escape” and “In Suffering”, laying down one senseless gut-punch of a riff after the next. In the same breath, I can safely say there are other meat and potatoes death metal bands who execute this exact formula with greater memorability.
Tales isn’t exactly an underwhelming album, especially when put next to the copy/paste extravaganza that is the new Cryptopsy album. It also doesn’t immediately grab me like the new Undergang EP. The point I’m trying to make is, to my ears, its just another death metal release. To many, that’s perfectly fine. I’ve grown used to it in this current day and age where there seems to be new death metal bands sprouting up every single day. Seriously folks, it’s getting to the point where we’re gonna start seeing Maggot Stomp bands licensed out to major labels the same way Morbid Angel was to Warner Bros. in the early ’90s. Feel free to send me some royalties when this eventually happens.
6 out of 10
Label: Redefining Darkness Records
Genre: Death Metal
For fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Bloodbath, Jungle Rot