Fleshvessel — Yearning: Promethean Fates Sealed

Fleshvessel is a band from Chicago, USA that is often described as progressive or avant-garde death metal. Yearning: Promethean Fates Sealed is their first full-length album, following an EP in 2020.  It features four central songs, each longer than ten minutes, in addition to three short interlude tracks.

Beginning with the melancholic, filmic acoustic introduction, the band sets a symphonic, orchestral tone, and shows a penchant for creating sweeping dynamic contrast with the juxtaposition of traditional folk instrumentation and oceanic distorted passages.  Though the death metal influence is certainly here in Fleshvessel's fastest moments, the influence of folk and symphonic metal have been understated in the descriptions I've seen of this band.

Opeth and Ulver are apt comparisons for the 'enchanted forest' feeling of this recording, though this is more heavily orchestrated than either, bringing it closer to something Dimmu Borgir's Death Cult Armageddon.  Clearly the result of a musical education, the compositions on this recording display a classical level of harmonic theory understanding.  Even during its heavier moments, it is the strong logic of the underlying chordal movements that grounds this music.  So heavy is the Romantic period influence on this band that I might even call it operatic metal, despite generally lacking operatic vocals, comparable at times to music like Liszt or Schumann.

The guitar does take the lead at times, but it would be equally accurate to say the piano/synth takes the lead role.  A flute appears many times as well, adding a Jethro Tull-esque character that reveals influence from older progressive rock.  The piano work has clear nods to ELP, as well.  The musicianship is agile and enthusiastic, with explosive arpeggiations from the piano and searing solos from the guitar.  The death metal side of the group has the existential energy of the most experimental 90s groups, like Gorguts, Death or Atheist.  Fleshvessel are particularly fond of the oddly harmonized leads performed by these bands.  Also worthy of note is the complex, melodically dense bass work.

All in all, the group are masters of emotional drama, making a twelve-minute track pass by without an impatient thought, rolling smoothly from one sound to another like the rolling hills.  The 'dark fairytale' theme is handled with perfect subtlety on this recording.   Metalheads that enjoy symphonic, Viking or post-metal should enjoy it, of course, but beyond that I think it would hold great appeal to any fan of bands like Sigur Ros or Godspeed You, Black Emperor, who create the same kind of massive dramatic contrasts.