"A technical assault of epic death metal", is what promotional flyer says. I can pretty much underwrite that. Flagellation are a decade old band, but 'Incinerate Disintegrate' is only their second release since 'Spineless Regression' demo released back in 1998.

The band performed delicately on this one. Especially drumming is like taking multiple bullets, thanks to Marcus Jonsson (now also in Insision) beating the skins. There's LOADS of riffs, some tasty and some too familiar and somewhat blunt. The key "epic" element is the synthesizer work; very symphonic, in vein of later Dimmu Borgir stuff. If I wanted to mention some more bands Flagellation remind me of, then I'd say Dragonlord, Demonoid and Insision. But one thing bugs me, and it bugs me a lot: Flagellation's specimen of skill lacks of something, and I guess the missing ingredient is memorable song writing. 'Threshold of Madness' and 'Purified by Fire' are catchier material, but generally it feels like riffs have been just thrown in the line.The first and the last tracks work as intro and outro instrumentals. I think this is a concept work about nuclear holocaust. Vocals are mainly in death metal and black metal style, but there's some clean vocals, too, somewhat reminding of young Messiah Marcolin (well, a bit anyways, huh?).

If technically performed death metal makes your glans penis tickle, Flagellation could make it for ya (the EP's available for free download, so...). They didn't give me a good enough flogging, They surely have a lot of energy, but the music wasn't delivered the way I wanted: Like long-open flesh wounds. But, Flagellation have massive potential in them.

Rating: 6- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
04/19/2007 18:23