Awaken

The amazing prog death metal band EXTOL have slowed down or may be on indefinite hiatus. It was a real shame as they were really evolving into a highly skilled and very unique band but there were some difficulties with the band. Thankfully two thirds of EXTOL have come together here with some others to form FLESHKILLER which basically sounds a heck of a lot like some of the best of EXTOL. Not exactly where they left off but like some of the heavier prog death of EXTOL including the surprising epic melodic choruses but also with more metal style guitar riffing around all over the songs. Very good for fans of melodic prog death metal such as Mastodon, Baroness, Arch Enemy etc.

Having got into metal in the mid 1980s I was also turned onto music by the likes of Yes and Saga. Having learned to love thrash and death metal in the late 1980s, this album is like a "coming home" to find my favourite musical styles blended together. So many are stating it's a continuation of Extol's work, I was not fortunate enough to hear any Extol's music so I can only draw on my own mixed bag of musical tastes. If I had to put a finger on it, it's like listening to the band members of Saga working with someone like In Flames or Malevolent Creation. It's an incredible achievement to seamlessly blend such differing styles but somehow it's done so well you cannot but help love listening to the music. It's obvious to state that the attraction of opposites is the key here but there's something more subliminal in listening to the death metal parts feeding you with aggression but then suddenly the ethereal prog choruses and breaks of the give you a huge emotional lift.So many bands promise to mix prog and death but so many fall short and only make a token effort at the prog parts, almost as a gimmick. That doesn't happen with FK they know their stuff incredibly well and you can tell there is a genuine love and devotion to both musical genres, it would sound so insincere if the knowledge and love of death metal and 1980s prog wasn't there. These guys know their stuff and it shows in spades.Like so many metal fans I would at best class myself as an agnostic, I hold no truck with religious beliefs and I choose to avoid religion. I am aware that FK are a Christian faith influenced band and their lyrics would discuss such subject matter as their faith. However a major aspect of FKs music that appeals to me, the lyrics don't preach to you. The lyrics are so ambiguous that you can take the uplifting messages in the lyrics without the need to share the band's faith, hopefully another point that will turn more people on to their music.I cannot recommend this stunning metal album enough. As a 30 year veteran of metal it's such a pleasure to still find something that send shivers down my back, great to hear something truly original and done so well!

Wow !. Ole Borud has really done it this time. If you like Extol's last album you are going to LOVE this. Hard, energetic, and beautiful all in one. It has everything that is great about Extol and continues the theme with even more passion. Could be one of the best extreme / prog / death metal albums ever.