Review: “Resurrecting Misanthropy” by Abolishment Of Flesh

“‘Words Defy Truth’ was written almost 10 years ago. I’m a big melody and somewhat tech fan, so this has been both challenging and fun to write and perform. This song is about some of the stuff that I saw and experienced when I was involved in church. It seemed like the deeper I got involved, the darker things got. It wasn’t necessarily nefarious but the manipulation, control, fear, and empty hope and promises were enough for me to walk away from religion.” ~ Ramon Cazares

During their initial two year run from 2006 to 2008, Amarillo Texas natives Abolishment of Flesh were simply known as Abolishment but a style shift from Brutal Death Metal to something more akin to Melodic Death Metal meant it was time for a change. Themes rooted war, violence, disease, corruption, and the systematic collapse of human civilization have often found the band delivering an anti-human message about death and destruction, masterminded by multi instrumentalist and vocalist Ramon Cazares. The current line up of the band finds him joined by guitarist Izaak Chavez, bassist and backing vocalist Jake Lahniers (Dead Shore, Human Artifacts, The Vile Impurity) and drummer Adrian Galindo (Await the Desolation, Baptized by Fire, Kleos) all of whom are vastly experienced players…

What does Melodic Brutal Technical Death Metal sound like? It sounds like “Words Defy Truth“. Throat splitting raspy death growls accompanied by Technical Melodic Death Metal guitars that sweep through the valley of death like a plague wind. Elevating the bass in the mix gives the instrument the opportunity to shine by providing more front line rhythm, the furious kit work giving the cut a pulverising quality. Rounding it all off in style, a sublime Melodic Death Metal solo is the metaphorical icing on the cake. The war on brain cells continues with “Hater of Man” a ferocious cut that finds Cazares offering up blood gargling vocals as he spits and snarls his way through the lyric sheet like a man possessed. Another flamboyant solo flies from the fretboard, this one again enhancing the melody of the skull battering rather than inflicting any further damage. 50 odd seconds of sublime Melodic Death Metal introduction give a little respite before the demonic vocals rise to the surface and “Disavowed” shows its true form. A brutal sonic assault on the senses, there are moments that sound like they were influenced by the early days of Sepultura with the raw, unpolished quality of the recording itself adding to the charm. If you’re new to Abolishment Of Flesh this is a baptism of fire [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Words Defy Truth
2. Hater of Man
3. Disavowed

“Resurrecting Misanthropy” by Abolishment Of Flesh is out 4th August 2023 via Blood Blast Distribution and is available over at bandcamp