Review: “Vestiges Abrutissants” by Liquid Flesh

There is a place for complex, Progressive or Technical Metal but sometimes you just want something that is raw, direct full of blistering energy. Bored of the long rehearsals and tired of tedious writing sessions with their other bands, an unholy trinity of seasoned veterans formed Liquid Flesh in Grenoble, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. That was a decade ago and having fulfilled their mission statement of creating “Unchallenging music for drunk musicians” with three albums in 2016’s “Spontaneous Liquefaction“, 2020’s “Chair Liquide” and 2023’s “Dolores”, the group take a moment to celebrate. EP “Vestiges Abrutissants” (mind-numbing vestiges) links the past to the present, introducing new drummer Baptiste “Acid Bapt” Roca, who joined the band barely a year ago. He joins bassist and vocalist Paul “Putrid Bruce” Brousse and guitarist Luc “Gastric Luke” Messina as they boldly go where they have gone before…

…but there is a catch. These aren’t simply a trio of re-recorded cuts from their debut album with a couple of extras thrown in for good measure. Oh no. The songs have been completed translated in the French language and re-worked to make that fit better with new arrangements. A DIY or DIE band from the very start, a decade of studio work from Gastric Luke also sees an improved mix with gained experience. A leaner, meaner fighting machine, opening cut “Tenafly Viper” clocks in at 16 seconds shorter than the 2016 original offering blistering start to “Vestiges Abrutissants”. New drummer Baptiste “Acid Bapt” Roca is immediately put to the test and proves his worth, pummelling the discerning listener into submission with the kind of performance that would make Igor Cavalera do a double take. Caustic vocals in French from Paul “Putrid Bruce” Brousse are a staple of Liquid Flesh but here they feel re-energised, the band capturing the furious dark energy of their live performances and committing it to tape before it escapes into the World to commit evil deeds. A new version of “Police Python 666” originally released on the Triumph ov Death compilation on “We Are French, Fuck You! III” in 2023 that actually pre-dates the bands last album “Dolores” as it was written during the great plague years is a great addition. Another ferocious performance front loaded with buzzsaw riffs that feel like they were born of inspirations from the 90’s Florida Death Metal scene, its an instant scratch card winner. A bass solo is a nice touch, the punchy old school riffs that follow having a tasteful groove and swagger to them.

Rebranding “Tortured” to “Torture” and is a subtle change in title that makes you wonder why, this punishing rendition of a song that helped put the French trio on the map needing no introduction. A cut of violent turbulence which airs on the side of sending a chill down the spine with dark story telling rather than being a frenzied assault on the senses, its a vital piece of Liquid Flesh history that is fully deserving of its place in this collection. This version sounds like an alternative studio take of the original which the band put to one side because it was a little bit faster and less atmospheric than they wanted. “Soupe Humaine” is of course the opening cut from 2016’s “Spontaneous Liquefaction” except in French and 12 seconds longer that its Grandfather. Slower, darker, groovier this one bites at the neck like a wolf with a bloodlust, paying homage to bands like Pestilence with the buzzsaw riffs in the process. Simple, effective Death Metal fun, this is the encapsulation of exactly that this band have been about for the past decade. If you hadn’t already guessed it, “L’Oeil du Maître” is in fact a rendition of the Entombed classic “Eyemaster” translated in French, performed in tribute to the Swedish Grand masters and of course the late great L.G. Petrov. The brilliance of this is that its very much in keeping with the style and sound of everything else on the record. If you didn’t know it was a cover before listening you wouldn’t be any the wiser listening. A glorious moment, this rendition adds something special and is the metaphorical icing on the cake [7.5/10]

Track Listing

I. Tenafly Viper
II. Police Python 666
III. Torture
IV. Soupe Humaine
V. L’Oeil du Maître (Entombed Cover)

“Vestiges Abrutissants” by Liquid Flesh is out 13th December 2024 and is available over at bandcamp.