Bliss of Flesh - Emaciated Deity (2009)

After a decade of low-key activity (consisting of some demos, splits and an EP), French Bliss of Flesh have arrived at their first proper album, a scorching hybrid of melodic black metal and brutal vocals and death breakdowns. They're actually rather refreshing for a hybrid of these two styles, most bands attempting the merge fall into a pattern of heavily recycled Dissection. Bliss of Flesh does have an ability to create powerful melody through their tracks, but this is meshed with a filthy, evil, sporadic style akin to countrymen Arkhon Infaustus.

"Perversion Domination" offers a soaring introduction to the band's brand of brutality. Epic rhythms are offset by barbaric snarling and a series of winding breakdowns. "Cursed Bodies" opens with a dark gothic metal vibe, picking up into some vile melodies and eventually the momentum of blasting drums, with some further cool breakdowns later in the track. "Apokalyptic Fields" weaves some grim but melodic rhythms into its onslaught of barking vocals, while "Annunciation of Carnality" is a slower, melodic sludge/doom instrumental. Other strong points are the raging barrage of "Entangled in Flesh" and the wild walls of guitar atrocity that comprise "Maccabees".

Emaciated Deity is a crisp album with razor honed guitar lines counteracting the rather brutal main vocals, though Necurat also incorporates a great many bloodthirsty snarls into his style. Think of what a band might sound like if it were equal parts Slayer, Dissection, Arkhon Infaustus and Anaal Nathrakh. Does that intrigue you? If so, you'll probably want to give Bliss of Flesh a listen. This is a solid debut brimming with evil.

Verdict: Win [7.5/10]

http://www.myspace.com/blissofflesh