Band:	Fleshgod Apocalypse
Album:	Agony
Style:	Symphonic death metal
Release date:	August 2011

01. Temptation
02. The Hypocrisy
03. The Imposition
04. The Deceit
05. The Violation
06. The Egoism
07. The Betrayal
08. The Forsaking
09. The Oppression
10. Agony
11. Heartwork [Carcass cover] [iTunes bonus]

Ever wondered what would happen if you crossed the symphonies of Nightwish with a brutal death metal style? Well here's your answer; Fleshgod Apocalypse have gone from being one of the best underground death metal bands to one of the most over the top, symphonic and flamboyant death metal bands there are.

Now under the wing of Nuclear Blast, these Italian connoisseurs of classically influenced death metal have taken their previously crafted brand of brutal death metal and cranked every element up to eleven. Much more symphonic than the band's previous offerings, Agony is a brutal blend of death metal mashed together with the symphonies you would expect to hear from bands like Dimmu Borgir. The band are still technically phenomenal, the drums especially are lightning-fast and precise. The violent death metal outbursts have not been compromised here, but they have been coupled together with vast, bombastic symphonic passages that at times are face-meltingly colourful and exquisite, see "The Betrayal" and "The Violation".

Unfortunately there is a down side that accompanies the new symphonic edge, namely the use of strained, high-pitch and at-times annoying clean vocals. The clean vocals have a suitable place here and there infrequently within Agony, but in tracks such as "The Deceit" the token clean vocals sound as if their only purpose is to tell the listener "we're open-minded and pushing the envelope" as opposed to actually adding an extra layer of epic-ness to the music, as the initial intention probably was.

Regardless of the minor quirk with the clean vocals and ponderings of how authentic this material could sound live, Agony is a blisteringly intense, over-the-top death metal studio album that is successful in pushing the envelope to a higher, more colourful place in death metal. Perhaps the symphonic elements and clean vocals will be too much for die-hard death metal fans to endure, but for the majority Agony is the next step of progression that Fleshgod Apocalypse were always leaning towards with their classical influence in the first place. Any way you look at it, Agony is a fiery assault that you'd have to work hard to not enjoy.

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Symphonic Death metal
Italy
Length: 49:45
Nuclear Blast