Superterranean life and world is falling into the huge abyss, whose Lovecraftian-cum-Giger dwellers have caused the event. The Uwe Jarling artwork is perfectly depicted by the band. Fleshcrawl have served varying death metal since 1991 and the band's debut full length album 'Descend into the Absurd' was excreted a year later.

During these 55 minutes, the band move in the spheres of death metal, doom metal and grindcore, intertwining them into monstrous sonics. Mainly, the band engaged Swedish and Finnish influences into their death metal, and some Central European bits, too. Even though the album came out in 1992, Fleshcrawl sound very much an entity dwelling the last quarter of 1980's. The songs fluctuate between insane ear-melting blastbeats and slow doom paces, during which horrific melodies are conjured. During the faster parts the band have kept it pretty simple with sawing riffage or textural pulsations. Low-tuned guitars and bass create the throbbing wall of sound, but still the sound is roomy, wrapped fantastically by organic-sounding drums and dryish throaty growling (with big German accent). Guffawing lead guitar explosions are heard throughout the album. Atmosphere prior to technical exhibition was what Fleshcrawl went for. That is evident right from the ambient intro 'Between Shadows They Crawl'. Distressing ambient part in the middle of 'Festering Flesh' must be mentioned, too, causing a listener to actually smell the stench of putrefaction. Damn, wait a sec... Oh, I think it's my underwear! Anyways, back with the album... Sadly, the lyrics are absent. What I can hear, no thanks to that accent, I presume the lyrics and the music go hand in hand, narrating the hideous tales. There is no typical rock songwriting, verse-verse-chorus. In all, the songs offer putrid chewing for many spins.

'Descend into the Absurd' is not for easy-going nights, it is a depraved journey to the dark side of mind. Just pick up that cover artwork and press play! Note: Just don't expect any newer Fleshcrawl releases to be this doomy, they're definitely more chirpy, even though some have their own doomy bits.

Rating: 8+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/07/2008 20:01