« Synopsis«
Self-Released/Independent
2014
Hailing from North Carolina, lone warrior, Brannan Hayes has been busy toiling about putting together his first proper debut, “Synopsis” under his tech-Death moniker, FLESHTORN. With much persistence and enthusiasm, Hayes has managed to fine tune a lot of the numbers and has especially focused on the “clanky” drum sound a program may embody to perfect an album worthy of repeated listens!
Symbolically representing the “human condition”, “Synopsis” lyrically delves into the imaginary world inhabited by alien animals that reflect the hardships we often face in our own lives. Fitting, as the words are best demonstrated through the songs in their manic and haphazard brutal, tech-Death! “Septic Lacerations”, “Abandoned by the Herd” and “Mating Season” all clearly define where Hayes shows his Metal affinity. Chaotic and “busy”, the majority of the album is an auditory workout of blistering kick drums, chuggy riffs and rhythms, compounded by rerecorded sampled drums that don’t sound too inauthentic, courtesy of Ryan Reed and his recording studio.
With all the dexterity of the nine songs, the casual listener may be inclined to dismiss “Synopsis” as mundane or slightly repetitive, but it is with repeated listens that the details begin to emerge. “Overridden Sensorium” and “The Chain” for example, borrow much from fellow alumni, OBSCURA or THE FACELESS in guitar melodies and the stop and go nature where there’s so much going on that it may be challenging to hear the subtleties within. “Parasitic Larva” recalls “Festering in the Crypt” by CANNIBAL CORPSE when the momentum builds and the guitar scale shifts from a slow to mid-paced groove.
Sure, FLESHTORN haven’t reinvented the wheel, but what listeners may appreciate is Hayes’s dedication to the genre and the artists that push themselves to create “mind-bending” music. With others perhaps relying too much on technicality over crafting traditional sounding “songs”, FLESHTORN hasn’t forgotten what a song is supposed to sound like!
Standout Tracks: “Mating Season”, “Parasitic Larva”, “Overridden Sensorium”
7/10
Chris
