Deeds Of Flesh

Crown of Souls

Unique Leader Records

8 tracks; 46:35

With the landmark release of Reduced to Ashes in 2003, DEEDS OF FLESH set the bar for technical death metal. It was beautiful. As time passed, although many have held a candle to that album, none since have been able to jump quite that high. Now DEEDS have raised the bar yet again with their seventh release, the unbelievable Crown of Souls.

The way I see it, perfect musicianship (3.5) + perfect writing (3.5) + perfect production (2) = 9/10. Only with the addition of originality and style (1) should a record receive a perfect score of 10/10. These guys have style in spades and they're truly unique, having broken new ground album after album. Crown of Souls is a little faster than before, a little more technical, and significantly more abstract. Indeed, their evolution to date has taken them so far out now, they're off the grid. This stuff is insane.

The compositions are complex and labyrinthine. But not in that disconcerting mathcore way; they're more accessible than that. While there are time signature twists, the complexities here stem more from psychotically heavy cadences coupled with robust riffage with lots of variety and a forsaking of repetition. I guess it took quite a few listens for me to wrap my mind around this album. But that's what stay-power is all about. It's like a game - to chase their progressions but rarely catch up. It's a cat toy for humans.

Although it makes for great atmospheric background music because it's so warm and thick and chunky, it tends to draw you in, so you can't multitask while it's playing. Before you know it, you're on the floor twitching with your eyeballs rolled back into your head. It's all those layers of tiny, intricate details. An aural Russian doll. Worlds within worlds.

When Crown of Souls is not making you bang your head, it's making you shake your head and say "Fuck! How'd they do that?!" (especially considering there are only three players). The guitar work steals your breath. Erik Lindmark is the king of tremolo picking and his speed and dexterity are more blistering than ever before. And the string-drum interplays are so tight. They seem to have moved beyond that speedy, fluttering zone into a sort of macabre, satanic buzzing. Moreover, the drum work is devastating. Mike Hamilton is simply the slickest, coolest, most ass-kickin' drummer out there. He's so bionic, he'll make your nipples stand at attention. His fills are so beautifully patterned and restrained, they're heart-breaking. And nobody whips a China crash like this guy. Watch out, cuz he'll snap your damn neck with that thing. Meanwhile, the vocals are out of this world. Lindmark is a force of nature. He actually sounds like a roaring, rumbling thunderstorm. And it never sounds forced. It's such a natural, honest voice quality - particularly intense when it's layered with Jacoby Kingston's shredding backing screams. These are two of the most evil and resonant voices around.

DEEDS OF FLESH have driven their blood stained stakes into the furthest reaches of the extreme music outlands with Crown of Souls. Join the adventure.

Regan Perlett