Defleshed - Abrah Kadavrah / Ma Belle Scalpelle [comp] (2000) [digipak]

 

 From the mid-90s to 2005, Sweden's Defleshed churned out a white hot blend of thrash, death metal, and grindcore, marking themselves as one of the most vital bands in all three of those genres. Having run out of inspiration and wanting to try other things they called it a day the same year they released their fifth album Reclaim The Beat, and ever since fans have hollered for their reunion. In 2021 they got what they were asking for when the band's core lineup - guitarist Lars Löfven, drummer Matte Modin and bassist/vocalist Gustaf Jorde - got back together. "We just wanted to record a couple of songs to include in a vinyl box set," explains Jorde. "The songs turned out good and the process was satisfying so we decided to have a go on a full-length." The result is the corrosive Grind Over Matter, 11 blistering songs packed into 34 minutes, not only proving that the band still have what it takes but that they are playing at the absolute top of their game.

With the vinyl box set not happening, the two songs the band initially recorded were released as the Fleshless And Wild single. Says Jorde, "At that time we had made up our minds on a continuation, so that release was kind of a gift to everyone who has encouraged us to get back together through all these years." None of the members took any convincing to reform or to push ahead with the full-length, starting to seriously write in Autumn 2021, and there was no masterplan guiding them. "We just wanted to see what we sounded like today, with new perspectives on things. We knew it had to be fast and furious yet diverse." The result is an album "filled to its maximum with power and energy", this made clear by opener "Bent Out Of Shape", which is perhaps the greatest start to any of their records. They do not take it easy on the listener from there on, with the likes of the thrashy "Dear Devil" and groove-laden "Unburdened By Genius" taking very different tactics in the damage they wreak, the band making a point of not repeating themselves while staying true to that classic Defleshed sound.

The title an obvious play on the term 'Mind Over Matter', Jorde is coming from a different place lyrically than fans are used to. "This time around traditional murder, war, and gore lyrics didn't come to me. So I wrote from a viewing perspective, beholding the world and man's influence on the same." This manifests itself in a variety of ways, "Bent Out Of Shape" standing as "an illustration of how everything is standardized and mainstreamed to enable mass production and economic growth, leaving nothing left to be organic, wild and vivid", while "One Grave To Fit Them All" is "a tale of a man who hates and kills everyone who differs from himself, resulting in sitting alone on the throne with no one left to hate." Then there is "Dear Devil", which is about "a wish - and demand - list written as a letter to The Underworld by a narcissist who arrogantly enough believes such a letter will be respected," Jorde always writing insightfully, giving the listener something to think about.

The album was tracked at Rorysound Studios, Uppsala, Sweden, with Lawrence Mackrory, with two weeks devoted to drums, another two for guitar and bass and two three-day sessions for vocals. "It was pretty straightforward, the hardest part was to not get carried away by impulsive ideas too much, but stay put to the original plan," says Jorde. Additional vocals on "Heavy Haul" and closer "Last Nail In The Coffin" come courtesy of the band F.K.Ü, who are also Uppsala natives, adding an extra dimension to the songs, the rest of the album strictly the work of the three band members.

 

 

 

Huw011

 

 -Tracklist:

1. Beaten, Loved and Eaten     03:33
2. Mary Bloody Mary     01:52
3. With a Gambrel     02:58
4. In Chains and Leather     03:15
5. Abrah Kadavrah     03:06
6. Gone with the Fæces     02:47
7. Anatomically Incorrect     03:05
8. On Gorgeous Grounds     02:34
9. Body Art...     04:33
10. ...Pierced Through the Heart     02:09
11. Morbidiance Blue Cafe     04:04
12. Simply Fell Towards     03:37
13. Many Mangled Maggots     02:40
14. Ma belle scalpelle     03:32
15. Gathered Flies     05:15
16. Mary Bloody Mary (live version)     01:46
17. In Chains and Leather (live version)     03:23

54:09

 

-Lineup:

• Lars Löfven : Guitars
• Gustaf Jorde : Vocals, Bass
• Matte Modin : Drums
• Oskar Karlsson (R.I.P. 2016) : Drums
• Kristoffer Griedl : Guitars.

 

 

 

Label: Unveiling the Wicked.

 Track 1-10 from "Abrah Kadavrah", originally released in 1996.
Track 11-15 from "Ma Belle Scalpelle" originally released in 1994.
Recorded at Rolling Rock Studios Hagersten by Bjorne Johnsson and Defleshed.
"Many Mangled Maggots" is taken from the demo'92 "Rotting Inflectioner" and
"Gathered Flies" is taken from the demo'92 "Vastus Ecclesia".
All music by Defleshed, all lyrics by Gustaf Jorde.
Track 16-17 were recorded live 13-2-1998 at Fellini-Uppsala, Sweden.
Recorded by Rickard Sporrong, edited by Lawrence Mackrory and Kaj Lofven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oskar Karlsson Jul 22nd, 1976 ┼ Mar 3rd, 2016