CYCLOPIC - FLESH OF CHAOS

Built on foundations laid by Benediction, Morgoth, Obituary & early Sepultura, the record spits out 10 lean tracks in a little over half an hour, wasting no time on overblown arrangements. Riffs are the clear focal point, shifting between grinding mid tempo grooves & bursts of savage speed, while maintaining a dark, oppressive atmosphere throughout.

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The title track & opener “Swords of Savage” immediately lands fiercely. Relying on crushing rhythms more than velocity, allowing guitars to breathe before “Lich Seed” raises the intensity with even sharper riffs & one of the strongest vocal performances in the genre to date. Elsewhere, songs like “Grotesque Feast” & “The Wanderer” expand on the album’s fantasy driven atmosphere without diluting momentum, while “Doomed to Eternity” closes the album on an epic melodic touch that feels right at home on the record.

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Instead of relying on familiar horror clichés, Alexey Rumyantsev draws inspiration from Michael Moorcock’s Eternal Champion stories, giving this record a rich lyrical identity. The sword & sorcery themes complement the music naturally, creating vivid imagery without any signs of overshadow.

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Production is yet another powerful strength here. Jörg Uken’s mix remains huge but organic, preserving the grit & grime expected from classic death metal while giving every instrument its moments.

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Flesh of Chaos isn’t one to chase the trend of innovation. Instead, understanding the fundamentals of memorable death metal with strong songwriting, ballsy grooves & enough aggression to keep every minute engaging.

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SCORE 8/10

Words by LearnTwoExist 

In collaboration with Headbangers Australia

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