A Gothic Black solo artist from Canada. February 16th, 2023, Phlesh independently released his debut studio album The Decomposing, which would gratify fans of Shining (Sweden), and Cradle Of Filth. Promoted through GlobMetal Promotion.
Introduction:
Phlesh, The Decomposing: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of The Decomposing
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Phlesh and his album, The Decomposing
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Features aggressive and dark guitar work, and the additional epic sound FX and darkened piano/synth inserts. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Involves harsh and loud vocals/growls and shrieks, interwoven with industrial mental insane vocals. The Third Sin—The Percussions: Delves into the vast world of pounding and dark drum work.
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion: Taking you through life’s treacherous corridors of… But don’t break the mirror.
Upon pressing the play button, the listener is immediately immersed in the haunting sounds of Darkness (In Womb). The steady water drip creates an eerie soundscape that sets the stage for what will come. The spoken words and guitar work in perfect harmony, evoking a sense of raw emotion that is sure to leave a lasting impression. This opening piece sets the tone for the entire album, warning listeners that they are about to embark on a profoundly impactful journey.
Moving on to the second track, The Stale Birth, the album takes a dark and deeply personal turn. This autobiographical concept album delves deep into the lifelong battle between mind and heart, exploring themes of mental illness, addiction, depression, anxiety, and self-destruction. The lyrics are poignant and powerful, drawing the listener into the artist’s world and making them feel every ounce of pain and struggle.
The Decomposing is an outstanding collection of eleven tracks that seamlessly blend the melodic death and blackened gothic elements of early Cradle Of Filth with the extreme death metal of Belphegor and the depressive atmosphere of Shining. The symphonic inserts are reminiscent of Old Man’s Child. Which executed and elevated the album’s powerful sound.
The colossal production quality and the cyclopean structures showcase sombre, breathtaking melodies. The structure of the songs is expertly crafted, evoking the feeling of early Dani Filth vocal work and the ambient (sombre tones)/melancholic lyrical themes of the immensely talented German female artist Sopor Aeternus and the Ensemble Of Shadows.
(as mentioned before) The themes of this album are hauntingly beautiful and told through the eyes of madness, documenting the lifelong battle between mind and heart, the downward spiral through mental illness and addiction.
The heartbreaking and debilitating struggle through depression, anxiety, and self-destruction.
The album’s execution of these themes is impeccable, creating an atmosphere of melancholic introspection that is both captivating and emotionally resonant. The vocals are delivered with a raw intensity that perfectly complements the album’s themes, evoking a sense of despair and hopelessness that is both harrowing and poignant.
Overall, The Decomposing is a triumph of extreme atmospheric metal, showcasing the talents of its creators and delivering a truly unforgettable listening experience and showcasing remarkable devilmanship, in the composition of the music, songwriting, and instrumentation. Topped off with top-notch production and good sound quality.
The album comes to an end with the last song, Darkness (in Bloom). It is a genuinely exceptional composition that showcases life’s beauty and pain through the delicate piano notes. The piece lasts for a total of five minutes, during which the listener is taken on an emotional journey that evokes feelings of both joy and sadness. As the music comes to a close, the listener is left with an overwhelming sense of despair, as if they have just witnessed the fragility of life first-hand. We want to give a shoutout to GlobMetal for letting us review Phlesh and their album name album. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
The Last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins, our thoughts on Phlesh and his album, The Decomposing.
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia: Is that for us, In its entirety, the album exudes an unparalleled level of excellence, imbued with a highly charged emotional resonance that is captivating and haunting. Its sombre tones create a deeply immersive experience, one that has the power to resonate deeply with those who choose to engage with it. “Enter at your own risk, but don’t break the mirror.”
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
The dark artwork for this album is impressive and captivating. It sets the mood for the music and immerses the listener in the artist’s vision.
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
Nothing to disrelish within the musical spectrum of Phlesh, and his album The Decomposing.
This concludes the Phlesh, The Decomposing review.
Track-Listing:
- Darkness (In Womb)
- The Stale Birth
- Perversions (of a Black Heart)
- Dragon Chaser
- Useless Flesh, part. I (The Realization of Emptiness)
- Useless Flesh, part. II (Serenity Through Carving)
- The Ultimate Trip of Self-Destruction
- Total F**king Disorder
- The Final Contemplation
- Suicide, My Love
- Darkness (in Bloom)
