Fleshgod Apocalypse - Agony

Humans are built in a way that makes listening to sounds arranged in certain ways enjoyable or unpleasent. We are susceptible to the effects of noise just like other animals, it stirs feelings inside of us causing us to react. The evolutionary reasons for these phenomenon are obvious, sounds are possible indicators of danger. Be it a predator a falling tree or a landslide.
Curiously human beings have extended these conjured emotions into the social function of belonging and recreation. We feel connectedness when hearing a certain chord progression. To us it's no longer simply sound, but something that stirs our very inner being. The rhythm of a drum makes us move our bodies in unison and harmony joined by melody can summon the most profound inner agony and joy. This album stirs up strong emotions in me, feelings that can be summed up by it's title.

Fleshgod Apocalypse's previous releases have impressed greatly. With their furious technicality, speed and brutality, yet attention to harmony, they explored new vistas in the genre. Then along came this release and it arguably takes the sound a large step further. This is a plethora of fully orchestral symphonies intertwined with classical (pun intended) technical death metal. Each time I listen to it the intro track makes me almost burst with anticipation for the rest of the album. The effectiveness of the pulsating crescendo gives the impression of a piece written by haunted composers in pain.
Operatic vocals linger and swell in the background and horns and trumpets rumble. The opening flows elegantly into the first song and the drums blast beats mercilessly enter the soundscape. This is the sound of impending disaster and if you aren't used to extreme music it is likely to scare you away. Much like the deer hearing the breaking of a twig in the bushes or the howling of a wolf in the distance. To some people, this despair-like sensation is most pleasurable.

Each piece is excellently executed with a good balance between the orchestral sounds and frantic trill riffs. Growl, scream and tenor voices play tag constantly and it creates a dynamic sound with many nuances. Guitar solos come in bursts and are competent and original enough to not feel tacked on. Many of the songs transfer seamlessly between the track changes creating a powerful sense of immersion. The classical composing ground is evident, and is used masterfully throughout the whole album. It's like a beast that is most alive and breathing, invoking a mixed sensation of beauty and horror into the listener. One can argue that this kind of music has been made before with acts such as Dimmu Borgir, but this album holds a very special place in my heart.
Many fans' criticism of this album is that it has taken a turn towards mainstream. To me, it's more of a bold step in a new direction that has been sparsely taken before.

To quote the local record company ninetone records : "If you walk in another mans footsteps you're never going to arrive first."

Spotify link:
Fleshgod Apocalypse - Agony

Opeth - Ghost Reveries

In every bands career there seems to be a moment where everything justs falls together and "the magic happens". This creation is definitely the result of the maturity, experience and passion accumulated over the years by this progressive death metal band from Sweden. Earlier iterations have had the elements that makes Opeth the widespread success it has become today. But this dark moody story of the occult paints an musical atmosphere truly unique. Michael Åkerfeldts deep growls and singer song-writer inspired soft as silk singing weaves a vivid imagery of calamity alternated with calm wonder.

With all except one of the tracks spanning over 5 minutes and four over 10 each song is like a chapter of a book. The opening track Ghost of Perdition drops you straight into a relentless drama of death-metal transferring straight into clean acoustic arrangements. Where some may see it as a counter-intuitive element to metal it really is well executed here and is a recurring theme throughout. Clever usage of Hammond-organs, strings and other ambient pads softens the furious guitars and makes for a vibrant sound.
Grand arrangements are greatly strengthened by craftily adding and subtracting to the mix of instruments. It grants the songs that feeling of grand suspense followed by a satisfying climaxes.

It's brutal and it's edgy. Not until the 4th track Atonement are you given room to breath. Bongos are evenly distributed throughout the album but are most noticeable here. The grand finale and as of my opinion the magnum opus track of Opeth is the Grand Conjuration. With it's endless in your face drumming and simplistic epic structure it serves as an excellent finale to a very exceptional production of heavy music. It offers a simple but powerful imagery.

It's Opeth at it's finest, and it's one hell of a ride!

Spotify link:
Opeth – Ghost Reveries