Band: Fleshgod Apocalypse
Title: Agony
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Distribution: PIAS
Release date: August 19th 2011
Review: CD

Fleshgod Apocalypse were formed in 2007 in the centre of Italy by Cristiano ‘Nepesh Ra’ Trionfera (g, v, k) (Promaetheus Unbound, ex-Lord Vampyr, ex-Shadowsreign, ex-Eyeconoclast) and three members of defunct Tyrannic Ethical Reconstruction: Paolo ‘Hammer’ Rossi (b, v) (ex-Airlines Of Terror), Francesco ‘Scythe’ Paoli (d, g, v) (ex-Hour Of Penance), and Francesco ‘Aeshla’ Struglia (d) (Promaetheus Unbound, ex-Lord Vampyr, ex-Shadowsreign, ex-VII Arcano), who left in 2009. After the 2007-promo-demo and their contribution to a four-way-split in 2008 (Da Vinci Death Code, Ripper Tattoo Productions) with Modus Delicti, Onirik (the Italian one, of course) and Septycal Gorge, the year 2009 was kind of important for two reasons: the recruitment of former Atemno- and Human Cluster-member Tom Riccardi (v, g) and the release of the studio debut Oracles (Candlelight Records and Willowtip Records). In mean time the band got joined by Francesco Ferrini (on piano), Tommaso’s colleague in Atemno and session / guest member of Human Cluster. Earlier this year, Willowtip Records was responsible for the release of the Mafia-EP (review posted 04/04/11), and soon after Fleshgod Apocalypse signed to major label Nuclear Blast.
The band re-entered the famous 16th Cellar Studio (mix and mastering) with Stefano ‘Saul’ Morabito - he used to be member of several formations higher mentioned guys are or were involved with, like Hour Of Penance, Rust Of Reason and Eyeconoclast, and he’s known as producer for e.g. Theatres Des Vampires, Murder Therapy or Nefertum, to name but a few.
These fifty minutes go rather on in the vein of Mafia than Oracles, with a continuation of the progression they made in between both former recordings. Agony opens with the intro Temptation, a short but weird, spooky and ominous soundscape that perfectly introduces The Hypocrisy, the first agonic story. It’s an extremely energetic, almost hyper-kinetic and orchestral Death Metal Epic that blows you away completely. Even though this creation with different kinds of vocals (mainly brutal grunts), blasting drum rhythms, bombastic keyboard lines, melodic and / or fierce guitar solos and hammering bass lines is hard-to-digest because of the many layers, yet it has been performed with attention for well-constructed Chaos. Besides, the whole song is full of changes in tempo, atmosphere and melody and it might sound enormously overwhelming, even asphyxiating, yet never the stupidly exaggerated way. The Imposition is not different: magisterial symphonies created out of pyroclastic storms and nuclear disasters, at the same time devastating and caressing man’s existence. And this goes on, song after song. It sounds so cohesive, so massive; in comparison to the past, this is an enormous step forward! And yes, this album can compete with the better bands from North America, France, Poland etc. within this genre. And Fleshgod Apocalypse distinguish with a very own characterising approach in both sound and performance, adding unique elements (Heavy Metal vocals, influences from Opera, the all-present keyboards and so on). And what an incredible force to aggregate these apocalyptic creations into such a consistent and coherent all-entirety.
An objection might be: Agony is just ‘too much’. A monolithic wall of sound, continuously crushing and demolishing… Indeed this album feels like a wild boar breakdancing on your skull, yet with a modest portion of masochistic pleasure you might (you will) like it this way?...!

89/100

Ivan Tibos.