Year: 2022
Total Time: 38:45
Label: Nuclear Blast
“Modern Primitive”. The title of SEPTIC FLESH’s new album, encompasses a contradiction which is obvious while listening to it. Metal compositions, symphonic passages and oriental sounds harmonize, yielding a solid, coherent sound result. This is the eleventh album of “Titans”, who are back, proving the maturity and the immense artistic substance of each of the five members of the band. The new album was released under the umbrella of a new record label, Nuclear Blast, and came out of the adversity and difficult times of the pandemic that humanity is experiencing. Thus, it strongly carries the air of reflection and insight into the outcome of humanity in the future. After all, we are talking about a band that throughout its entire career, leaves nothing to chance, from the compositions, lyrics, covers, to the last detail in every live performance. They experiment and battle with themselves, as a continuous self-improvement or rather exploration of the possibilities of human artistic existence without ever losing their personal character.
This particular album has a dominant idea, that of modern man’s march towards his self-destruction, with various sub-parts of stories within the tracks. It opens with “The Collector”, where the acoustic guitars are followed by the intensity of all the instruments, while the vocals combine effortless theatricality and Death growls. The riffs begin with a pompous presence and the symphonic melodies round out the edges of the track. “Hierophant” continues the atmospheric course of the album with bombastic chords that swell and respond to the symphonic parts. “Self Eater” begins cinematically, while the inclusion of the choir and female vocals elevate the effect. Then we have “Neuromancer”, which offers clean and harsh vocals with epic passages intertwined with some intense guitar riffs and powerful drumming. Catchy chorus, amazing track.
And the storm follows, just as the title of “Coming Storm” indicates, with intensity, melodiousness – use of trumpets among other things -, a magical choir section, all of which create an occult and yet epic timbre, as would be appropriate for a film. Αn absolute complete track. “A Desert Throne” has intense Heavy Metal guitars suitably combined with symphonic passages. What follows is equally cinematic, with the album’s title track “Modern Primitives”. An amalgamation of dynamics, melody and choruses leaving a sweeter feeling though. At the same time, it creates a philosophical question and makes you hum “Why do we fall?, Why do we bleed?”. “Psychohistory” follows as the penultimate track of the album, with top notch drumming and endless tension throughout its duration. The curtain falls with “A Dreadful Muse”, a track full of melodrama, following the whole style of the album. I expected the closing track to be more powerful, although it doesn’t disappoint in any way!
In general, the whole album manages to combine in full balance Symphonic Death Metal, Heavy beats, ethnic and orchestral elements, choirs, female vocals in some parts and a variety of musical instruments (santoor, duduk, lute, oud among others) in a mystical atmosphere. It deservedly represents its oxymoronic title by covering the duality of intensity – melodicity. The battle that SEPTIC FLESH face is with themselves! They have some amazing albums under their belt and this one – although extremely well crafted in these 39 minutes – I don’t know if it can surpass previous releases like “Communion”. However, I would definitely say that “Modern Primitive” is a mature, solid album, a source of thought and reflection!
Rating: 8/10
Editor: Filomeni Riga
Related Link: SEPTIC FLESH – Official Page
