ALBUM REVIEW: Iron Flesh – Limb After Limb

France’s Death Metal traditionalists IRON FLESH are back with a new opus of chainsawed decay via War Anthem Records. Let’s go!

Instantly the ripping HM-2 guitar tone is the first thing you notice as bombastic grooves and stampeding drums launch into a rotten cascade with meaty vocals soon ensuing. The massive production and gorgeous cover art do not oversell the album as the songwriting is of equally excellent quality, from the earliest moments of extreme brutality as things develop into more sepulchral realms there is no accusation of being repetitive. In fact, Iron Flesh do a great job of keeping this record moving from the get-go with plenty of grooves that will break necks, there is equally abundant dynamics. Definitely a gripping beginning to things which leaves you hungry for more.

Taking the Swedish template but adding their own flavour with grittiness and also some more doomy moments like the “Blessed Be The Creators” track which is a glorious contrast to its furious predecessor. The way in which some more experimental, almost eastern influences come into this album works really well with their foreboding sounds, while keeping Death Metal at the heart of every move they make. It feels genuine and like a real dive into the bands creativity rather than just pretentious try-hard lameness. The real tell is how damn ferocious the entire record is with scathingly heavy playing across the board from start to end.

One note that may stand out, is the albums length of 48 minutes. This seems quite long for a Swedish-style Death Metal record which usually sit at 30-40, but Iron Flesh don’t just flesh the album out with pointless drivel to increase its playing time. No, they deliver 10 mighty blows of crushing music that do not get tiresome to listen to. Crawling grooves and barbaric stomps meet blisteringly intense sections and more eerie moments of doom to keep things ever-evolving while retaining the sonically spewed filth of true Death Metal. This is definitely worthy of many spins to unlock its more subtle secrets, though the first play is rewarding enough to those seeking a simple hammer-blow of heaviness which is delivered willingly and forcefully.

A truly epic slab of old school Death Metal that is by far the bands strongest work to date. I liked the predecessor but this feels much more refined, matured and explorative without sacrificing their sadistic motives and old school aesthetic.