Review Summary: Free protein for all
Broken down, Fleshrot’s distinction within death metal circles isn’t exactly a refined one. Probably because gore and death circle the same prowling grounds, grumbling distorted guitar riffs and the loose jowls of neck beard-toting musicians wearing their finest, but most worn flannelettes. It’s not Fleshrot’s fault that this niche sits just outside of the hillbilly camps and inbred swamps, foot sores and wobbly teeth prevalent amongst the few visionary-types left to sell this brand to the masses and yet,
Unburied Corpse sits atop a fine line of perfectly disgusting death metal, filth and rot in tow (or toes depending on how this narrative suits you).
Enter
Unburied Corpse’s “Wrapped in Entrails”, a slow march of just clear enough riffs and feedback in its death throes. It’s the anthem to which butchers everywhere lift heavy cleavers everywhere, while just as trodden tracks like “Draining the Liquified Remains” and the title continue to rain adjustments to the same mid-tempo formula. The groove itself flouts a line between stock-standard and downright musical boredom. If Fleshrot weren’t so convincing in their shtick of horror infused old school death metal-isms there’d be little doubt these riffs would be lost in a back end swamp, despite the occasional guitar wail and feedback. Even the record’s closing trio of tracks maintain a consistent, dirge-like soundscape already familiar on the rest of the album.
Unburied Corpse’s power is found within how well it sticks to the niche, but it’s unfortunately the only thing going on here.
It’s a shame that there’s no real shift during any point of this twenty-eight minute expression into the filthy underside of old school metal, its makeup restricted too simply by
what it is. Fleshrot may have a cool idea or two…but you won’t find a third or fourth within the same aesthetic.
Unburied Corpse is for the most casual of casual death metal fans, and probably not for a second spin.
