When All Fades

Fleshred. The name suggests either death metal, grindcore or porn. The contents reveal the second most enjoyable option of the three, and it is not grindcore. That info should be sufficient for a correct conclusion to be made. “When All Fades” is the second demo of another of Finland’s horde of up-and-coming bands determined to bring death metal carnage of the traditional kind to you mortals and us morons. We jump up and down, clap our hands in glee and shout for the devil. Then we die. At least according to the Jehovah’s Witnesses who happened to knock on my door whilst I was performing said –cough– ritual. Needless to say, I had to put them down, just to guarantee my seat reservation next to my cousin, Beelze Bob, in the afterlife. Where was I? Ah, the demo. Penis.

The ways of old are honored on “When All Fades” by all means necessary, and unnecessary. Simple and wannabe-catchy down-tuned steaks of harsh riffs stomp along with fast thrash beats, double kicks, and blasts while the vocalist spews out his guts in a most unpolished manner. Suits the sick and twisted atmosphere nicely. Some technical stuff and odd time signatures intermingle with Kerry King-esque solos, you know – “I don’t know what I’m doing and I can’t control it, but it sounds fast, intense and squealy, yeaaaAAHHH!!!” Once again, suits the tunes, which sport many riffs that wouldn’t sound out of place on a pure thrash metal record.

The quality of the material is solid, not more. There are no “hits”, or any riffs that make you go fucking insane like the Pope at a kindergarten. My foot is tapping along, but I don’t feel any urge to bring my air drum kit out of the closet and swing away. Still, for a demo, this is very good stuff, and I’m not surprised Fleshred got signed soon after its release. They’ve also managed to get the production right on this four-tracker, it’s massive and heavy as a motherfucker. Very very nice.

Summa summarum: well executed, very well produced and quite well-composed death metal of the macho kind is what Fleshred bring to the table, and I can recommend them warmly to any friends of good ole death. There’s always room for one more old school orchestra, as long as quality is present. And no Jehovah’s Witnesses.