Death metal hasn’t always freely lent itself to diversity. Sure there’s been the Cynic‘s and Opeth‘s, etc. who dragged it kicking and screaming to far away lands. But it seems like somewhere along the way, that transition inevitably leaves the brutality of the genre behind. While the future of Fallujah‘s musical output remains unwritten, one thing is a certainty: “The Flesh Prevails” is an exceptional metamorphosis for technical death metal.
A stunning unification of atmospheric progressive metal and bulldozing sonic barbarism, the album sounds like the bloodiest battle being fought in a breathtakingly supernatural locale. There is such dignity and elegance to the ethereal guitar playing in particular that the sonic stratosphere here is damn near transcendental.
The disparate nature of grace and violence create an aural ecosystem that simultaneously exhibits the duality of each track. On one side there is otherworldly clarity and serene calm instilled largely by the brooding atmospherics. On the other is that of the thrall of bloodsoaked combat with dulled-edge hacking and bone shattering percussion. That these two decisive elements work together concurrently is exceptional.
Make no mistake though, the band don’t skimp on butchery. There are sustained passages of outright carnage throughout this album with all the organ bruising double-kick, fret grinding and larynx incinerating bellows you can stomach. Even so, “The Flesh Prevails” is a truly realized alliance. An adventurous journey that combines war with peace.
Be it the inclusion of female electro pop artist Roniit‘s ghostly vocals, lingering electronics or intricate texturing; the group take big risks and are rewarded with even larger payoffs. To put it simply, “The Flesh Prevails” is a finesse-laden warpath that firmly puts Fallujah‘s on the map.
