Fleshgod
Apocalypse – King
(2016, Nuclear Blast Records)
The label
Nuclear Blast has been one of the most important Metal labels since a its
induction in the records world. Their productions are highly professional and
sound almost too good for Metal records. In the case of many bands it may have
cause to shifts in their music into a more accessible approach and a too
perfect sound.
The
comparison of Fleshgod Apocalypse
and Cradle of Filth is to me very
accurate as for the quality of the production, the inclusion of a talented
female vocalist and lots of orchestrations. There’s also the comparison with Rhapsody but to me Luca Turilli’s band
is not enough brutal and metal when compared with Fleshgod Apocalypse.
The gimmick
of the orchestra is appealing at first and gives a sense of grandeur to the
Death metal but it also is such a filler into average songs that I think the
band is too aware of itself and forgot a bit about metal and gives too much
into classical music. Just like the aforementioned Nile, sometimes the Ancient Egypt theme is dragging the band from
going to the next level.
In the case
of King, it is not that those
immensely talented musicians are not showing their skills but it is more that
they are missing the mark with the concept. It’s not that the album is not
enjoyable, it is a satisfying record but I feel that it is too mainstream in
their approach and too marketable as a Death metal band.
Speaking of
this album is not complete without the mention of the performance of drummer Francesco Paoli. He is tight, fast,
brutal, and definitely amongst the drummer gods of metal. Also a soft spot for
guest vocalist Veronica Bordacchini
with her soprano voice that like Sarah
Jezebel Deva in Midian by Cradle of Filth, she completes the band’s
vocal tenure.
Overall, King is an OK album that has its highs
and its lows and I am definitely not the target audience. The quality of the
album did not helped to turn me into a fan of the band or an enthusiast of
their music.
6.0
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