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Advent of Bedlam > Flesh over God > Reviews
Advent of Bedlam - Flesh over God

Let's burn the book of lies! - 88%

6CORPSE6GRINDER6, July 9th, 2019

Released in 2012, Flesh Over God is already a costa rican death metal classic. It marks the definite step towards a more aggressive form of extreme metal that began when these guys decided to change their name from December's Cold Winter to Advent of Bedlam 3 years before. The 7 string guitars really added a lot of weight to the band's sound and the line up change behind the drum kit added a lot of violence, speed and technicality in the percussion section. The production of the album is also darker and less Gothenburg than on Behold the Chaos (2010). Composition wise, the guitar work is astonishing. They really take advantage of the pair of guitars harmonically -it's still melodic death metal- while the riffing overall is ultra heavy, frantic, dark and dramatic; melodies don't sacrifice weight because of the wider opportunities that lower tuning offers.

That passionate and intense sense of melody portrayed in a more traditional death metal way and not so plastic and over produced is precisely what makes this band unique and one of the best in the genre. Along with the superb guitar lines, there's also an upgrade in the bass duties compared to their previous album, there are more sections where the bassist adventures to play something different than the main guitar riff; all of these arrangements were gracefully achieved. While he didn't need to get extremely technical, they ended up sounding completely sinister and nicely attached to the drum parts. The vocals aren't extremely low but definitely guttural and the singer also adds a higher, black metalish shriek on some choruses. There's a little collaboration by Tim Aymar (Control Denied) on track 4 that is also worth checking, featuring his classic clean vocal style of course. Stopping at 35 minutes, the record is not very long; it's a rather fast and ferocious one.

There are some mellowed out sections here and there with progressive hints too, everything nicely done without compromising the darker overtones of the album. The rawer recording techniques favored the string department but the drumming suffers a little compared to nowadays production, the drummer executed everything perfectly is actually more of a recording/mixing issue but it's not a big deal... Otherwise the album would have been perfect. The drumming consists of a fair share of blast beats, world class double bass drum skills and good taste in the cymbal work.

A deft and meticulous transformation - 80%

autothrall, November 1st, 2012

Flesh Over God is the sophomore of Costa Rica's Advent of Bedlam, who had impressed me a few short years ago with Behold the Chaos, a take no prisoners, aggressive approach to melodic death metal that brought variation and skill to an ailing sub-genre and helped prove that it still had some legs to it. Thus, I was pretty surprised to find that the group's core sound had mutated a bit with more semi-technical 90s death metal influences; but not at all disappointed, since Flesh Over God still exudes most of the same strong songwriting embellishments and musicianship of its predecessor. Most importantly, Advent of Bedlam just know how to write riffs that come across exciting and fresh (even when they're technically not), an ability that is more of a 'dying art' than you might think...

Right from the start, Flesh Over God evokes a more industrious and menacing side to the band's sound, complete with churning, palm mutes and full chords that erupt into an eerie tremolo riff over a blast. Loads of acrobatically chugging grooves are strewn about this landscape, with a lot of the brighter harmonies of their past eschewed in favor of creepier, darker note progressions. The guitar playing through the album often felt like a mixture of Pestilence's Testimony of the Ancients and New Yorkers' Immolation's later 90s work, swerving and swelling through periods of harsher dissonance and almost mechanical, unfeeling precision.They can build emotional, tonal melodies that have a post-hardcore influence with lots of glimmering octave chords ("Purification Through Pain"), but they also won't leave you hanging for long before they break back into some grueling, ominous old school death metal bridge that binds everything together. There is a drier edge to the guitar tone, and the drums are often a bit thin and tinny sounding, but overall I did feel like this helped lend the recording some clarity and credibility.

Vocally, they implement a conglomeration of blood curling rasps and harsher grunts, sort of a mix of Tomas Lindberg, Ross Dolan and David Vincent, sometimes splayed out individually in the verses, and while neither style might seem all that unique or standout on its own, they're both quite effective alongside the music, in particular where they bark out in grisly unison. The bass lines add a nice, deep, curving anchor for the guitar tone, and the drummer beats the living oblivion out of his kit, even if I wasn't blown over by their mix. I was happy to hear the familiar and excellent guest vocals of Tim Aymar (Pharaoh) in "Indoctrinate Wrath", which functioned so well in this harsher environment than his native band, that I wanted to hear more. The cover art to this thing is also pretty fucking crazy, with that surreal, insect-like avatar crushing feasting on its supplicants at a wasteland temple. The lyrics are not the most unique or poetic out there, but they're full of passion and anger that matches up well with the riffing hysterics.

I can't claim to have enjoyed Flesh Over God any more or less than the first album, but that's far from a bad thing. It's potent, it's different, and it shucks all the current trends of death metal without disengaging similar influences. Not a total facelift to their earlier sound, but a compelling, partial transformation. This band is once again worth paying attention to, and deserves a broader audience.

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

Melodious Malodorous Monstrosity - 78%

Left Hand Ov Dog, September 27th, 2012

Costa Rica is not normally one of the first places I think of when considering underground death metal, but Advent of Bedlam have produced a real storm here, on this, their second album. Coming from a scene I’m not so familiar with, it’s especially pleasing that they’re so good. Flesh Over God has a pretty ridiculous amount of variety in its 35 minutes, and if there’s one thing these guys can do, it’s write a riff… or about 1000, in this case.

Flesh Over God is a different kind of melodic death metal. It has nothing at all to do groove-happy, uninspired Gothenburg or metalcore drivel, sounding more redolent of Polish boundary-smashers Behemoth, or Australin tech phenoms Psycroptic, than any derivation of Dark Tranquility or In Flames. But melodic they are, building off a variety of riffs that are really, actually riffs; consistently varied and ever-flowing, not just atonal chugging patterns that many death metal bands use as a crutch. While not all of them are terribly memorable, many of them are, and there’s enough variety to keep you on your toes. In conjunction with the insanely varied pacing, though, their efforts come off as pretty universally appealing.

Whether they’re blasting away, removing your flesh like a whirlwind of knives, or soaring high in a mid-paced layering of melodies, you’ll be both impressed and transfixed. The word gets thrown around a lot, but this record is truly dynamic, and forces one to rethink the moniker ‘melodic death metal’, as it’s just so far left of center. Yeah, Flesh Over God is melodic, with lots of riffs that feel very uplifting, but they can also pull out their battle hammers at the drop of a hat and go brutal death metal, crushing your life with little warning. There are a variety of vocal styles, including high rasps, lower growling, and some instances of chanting, further differentiating each moment. There’s even a spectacular guest spot from Tim Aymar (Pharaoh, Control Denied), which totally caught me off guard. The production is largely even, but I felt the drums were just a tad loud, sometimes obscuring the guitars, but only slightly. That said, it’s a very minor complaint, and the performance itself is absolutely badass, matching the compositional insanity with ease, and drummer Luis Ortiz can clap himself on the back for a job well done.

Advent of Bedlam have released a very capable record here, only flawed in that some of its constituent parts feel so familiar. The band truly take Behemoth as gospel, and one can hear a smorgasbord of notation clearly inspired by the sheering, ancient wave of energy those Poles produce around virtually every turn. This is both a strength and a weakness. For me, it’s a strength, as I absolutely love Behemoth and their trademark style (one of my top 20 artists, no doubt), but some may no doubt write them off for it at first glance, without deigning to go deeper. That would be a mistake. They do take perhaps a bit too much influence from them at times, but to the band’s credit, their riffs are always engrossing, and rarely feel like plagiarism, even when they wear the influence on their sleeve. There are also subtle nods to At the Gates, but they remain in their place, and none of it feels downtrodden or trite, like the 2,893,000 other bands who name them as a primary influence. I can also pick out some Greek here, a la Rotting Christ, in some of the creepier riffs, and the cleaner, more cultish vocal styles.

Other than the bands listed above, the vast number of individual riffs here still feels vaguely familiar, even if those sources are not immediately identifiable. However, the riffs are so strong, and these songs are constructed with so much care and force as to render that complaint pretty minor. Flesh Over God is a very compelling package, a damn good death metal album (with awesome cover art) that attempts to defy the usual classifications, instead existing somewhere in the middle of melody and brutality. It’s not always memorable, but it is absolutely fun, and often surprising, for the entirety of its short length, and I feel that if the band could put their own unique stamp on the riffing, they could make a significant splash in the death metal consciousness. I certainly hope they do, as they have a scary amount of combined ability, and they play with undeniable passion.

If you’re looking for a good underground release that’s a bit different, this is a good bet. It’s always a pleasure to witness such inspiration and talent in the underground, and even though they didn’t quite wipe the floor with me, I’m glad I ran into Advent of Bedlam. They’re clearly inspired, know how to construct a song, and stir in an appreciable variety of elements with ease. Flesh Over God is just on the very cusp of being great, and I have a feeling this will appeal to a wide range of death heads, from fans of Spawn of Possession to even Arch Enemy. They’ve got all the elements here, and they can count me impressed, but I still think they can do better. I’d love to see some big names take these guys out on tour so they can get some more experience under their belts, tighten their sound for a defining album, and explode. Until then, do these guys a favor and throw some fuel on the fire by plunking down the meager pittance for this intriguing album. It will not disappoint.

-Left Hand of Dog
http://reaperdivision.blogspot.com/

Advent of Bedlam - Flesh Over God - 90%

Amnael, March 2nd, 2012

Advent of Bedlam has always been considered the "Costa Rican Behemoth" and well, they have never been so close to that black/death metal sound as right now. "Flesh Over God" represents an evolution in Advent of Bedlam's style. It is faster, more aggressive, and more technical than "Behold the Chaos", however they still maintain their melodic death metal personality.

Guitars are deeper and faster, but highly melodic with amazing riffs and really nice solos. The bass is perfectly played, however it is overshadowed by the guitars, but it can be appreciated in some moments. The vocal have also changed. Zumbado's growls are now more the black/death style, and backing vocals are used to enhance the aggressive sound. The drums are just simply amazing. When I hear this album, I can't resist remembering Vorgnagar's "The Bleeding Holocaust". The drumming is insane and Ortiz's blast beats give AoB a sound that they have never had, and that is just perfect for the band's new facet. Including Tim Aymar (Pharaoh, Control Denied, etc) as additional vocalist in "Indoctrinated Wrath" is a really nice surprise as well. This gives the album a unique sound and should be seen as a prize to these guys' efforts.

This album is the proof that Advent of Bedlam is nowadays Costa Rica's biggest metal band, a title more than deserved and that will probably be maintained for many time.

Recommended songs:
"Nimrod's Rebellion"
"Tyrannicide"
"Indoctrinated Wrath"