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SORDID FLESH
Torturer

Vic (2013)
Rating: 8/10

Not another Swedish death metal band, I hear you ask! Sordid Flesh is a sinister bunch, five guys who are very much in that no-nonsense mould of black ’n’ roll. These guys have been around since 2011 and Torturer is their debut release, and it’s certainly a grower.

What I like about this nine-track platter is its ability to keep hold of that classic Swedish sound, particularly in the vocals of Fredrik Håf, and marry it with a more classic metal feel which is cemented by the guitar assaults of Johan Vikholm and Olle Hedenström.

There is an air of the bombastic about this black slithering record, and it’s no surprise to hear it was recorded in a large concert hall, giving it a loose feel at times. However, as the band are quick to state, this isn’t merely an imitation in sound of Dismember, Grave etc. The guitars, particularly the solos, have a strong air of nostalgia, hinting at the 70s and more so 80s underground scene but there’s still that level of accessibility too, with album opener ‘The Thelema Way’ mixing riotous death metal with traditional metal to great effect.

For the most part, Sordid Flesh is a pacey unit but because of that nostalgic influence we never get dulled by the speed. Imagine Motörhead at their blackest on the galloping ‘Mark Of The Fallen’ and twin this oil-slick sound with Darkthrone and spruce it up with that Swedish quality, and that will go some way to explaining this raucous affair.

But this band could certainly evolve into a far greater force if they want it enough. The eerie tones of ‘Rites At The Cemetery’ are the heaviest on the record, especially in that monstrous drum sound courtesy of Emil Berglin. It’s this track which has the strongest live feel, but it also reeks of that late 80s mould, although it could be argued that the groove monster that is ‘Gravebitch’ is equally foetid in its necrophilia-glory as Jacob Wiberg’s bass forces those rotten skeletons to rise from their dirty beds.

Although it’s fair to say that a number of bands are opting for this dirty death metal / rock ’n’ roll amalgamation, Sordid Flesh seem to have an edge over the competition simply with their ability to write killer tunes one after the other without too much repetition. ‘Torturer’, ‘Where Art Thou God?’ and closer ‘Rise From The Abyss’ are all toxic shocks to the system, and with enough guidance this bunch of grave robbers could well be attracting the major players. Not since Venom has a band so effortlessly tossed beer cans into a desecrated grave.

Neil Arnold

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