If death metal that's about worshiping old school Swedish low tone brutality ain't your thing, you can stop reading right now. If you wouldn't know that these guys were German, you would probably bet that they were Swedes. But to Fleshcrawl's credit, I can't pick any particular band to compare them with while listening to this platter of splatter. Maybe it's because Swedish death metal is their biggest (somewhere between Entombed and Necrophobic), yet not the only influence. I hear some offensive Bolt Throwerish mid-paced ponderosity and comfortless melodicism (most notably on killer 'The Age of Chaos').

On 'Bloodsoul' the band mixes both previous albums' styles together, which are doomy death mayhem of 'Descend into the Absurd' and gory splash of 'Impurity' (respectively 1992 and 1993). The band succeeds the best with the most varying songs, such as 'Bloodsoul' and aforementioned 'The Age...'. More straightforward stuff, e.g. 'Nocturnal Funeral', usually finds int target and manage to deliver brutal enough beating. Yet I crave for the twisty stuff, because the straighter material is low on real peculiarities. Anyways, groovier 'Tomb of Memories' leaves a good taste. Demilich cover 'Embalmed Beauty Sleep' is weirdly placed as a third track. Fleshcrawl did not invent anything new here, but they sticked to their guns, doing what they probably more than love to do.

The Peter Tägtgren production is nothing like his work with Hypocrisy, Immortal and such. The nowadays' Abyss productions mostly are too clean and trebly. The sound on 'Bloodsoul' simply crushes! It's like a fucking horde of war elephants coming your way that you noticed too late. You have no time to escape. The sensation from listening to this is like two elephant legs squashing a listener's head between them. Brutal, heavy, raw and for some incomprehensible reason, pretty clear too. The rhythm section is placed on the frontline, thanks to the pounding bass and powerfully explosive kick drums (this is a wet dream for doube kick drum lovers, let me tell you!!!). The guitar sound is of pure Swedish quality. Mister Tägtgren guests on vocals on a few songs, as that familiar demonic shriek designates. Alex Pretzer's vocals are typical low growl. The lyrics are nothing original themewise (wars, serial killers, religions, madness, death), but they are written with a personal touch.

Death-heads digging old school death metal might want to inspect 'Bloodsoul' immediately. This album is not a classic one, but serves heavily on ugly brutality, just as needed, but just don't expect to hear any innovative things. Not my favourite one from the band, but they have offered us many different visions of brutal death metal.

Rating: 7 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/21/2006 15:19