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pátek 12. prosince 2025

Recenze/review - REAPING FLESH - Death Creeps (2025)


REAPING FLESH - Death Creeps
CD 2025, Reaping Records

for english please scroll down

Máš zmrzlé kosti, když odkrýváš další plesnivý hrob. Daleko na severu, v lesích, které jsou zahaleny do krvavé mlhy. Někdy chceš být sám, odstřižen od současného divného světa. Vracíš se ke svým kořenům a posloucháš jen kapely, které v sobě mají drive a pradávnou sílu. REAPING FLESH z Norska patří mezi vyvolené. Mezi tmáře, kteří umí svojí hudbou znázornit staré rituály pro vyvolávání temných sil.

Stačilo mi jen několik poslechů, abych věděl, že jsem zde správně. Mě i kapele koluje v žilách stejná zkažená krev. Vraťme se po časové ose zpět, do doby, kdy se ještě extrémní metal nerozlišoval na jednotlivé styly tak úzkostlivě jako dnes. Nalezneme zde odkazy jak na death metal, tak i na thrash, chladný black, ale i třeba surovost hardcoru a nespoutanost punku. Výsledkem je koktejl, který musí chutnat všem poctivým hrobníkům, mezi které se již skoro 35 let hrdě hlásím. Doporučuji temnou místnost a volume úplně doprava. 


Snad každý pátek, když jdu unaven z práce, tak hledám ve své diskografii kapely, které mi propláchnou mozek kyselinou. Otevřu si pivo, nejbližší rakev a nechávám hudbu, aby na mě jen tak působila. Je něco divokého, ostrého, chladného a zcela podmanivého, co z nového alba "Death Creeps" slyším a cítím. Užívám si povedený zvuk (Mixed by Martin Bowitz (Store Studio) and mastered by Magnus Lindberg (VRTKL Audio), který dodává nahrávce na ještě větší uvěřitelnosti. Najednou nesedím ve své oblíbené márnici, ale toulám se daleko na severu v lesích. Kolem mě je naprostá tma a chlad. Moje kroky mě nakonec dovedou na jeden zdánlivě opuštěný hřbitov. Legendy praví, že se zde kdysi pohřbívali prokletí. Usedám na hrubě otesaný kámen a znovu zapínám play na svém přehrávači. Zde, v naprosté samotě, vynikne síla tohoto alba nejvíce. Dovedu si ale představit i malý klub na periferii špinavého města. Jen pár pravověrných fanoušků. Budu stát v první řadě a užívat si pochmurně silné melodie. REAPING FLESH jsou letos ve velmi dobré formě. Líbí se mi jejich přístup, nápady, motivy, i pro mě velmi důležitá opravdovost, reálnost, autenticita. Myslím si, že není co řešit, tady se hraje pro staré hrobníky, pro prokleté i pro všechny fanoušky pohřbů do země. Znovu, i po delší době a mnohých společných setkáních s tímto albem, vám mohu novinku jenom doporučit. Má v sobě vše potřebné pro opravdový záhrobní rituál. Mám zmrzlé kosti, když odkrývám další plesnivý hrob. Daleko na severu, v lesích, které jsou zahaleny do krvavé mlhy. Někdy chci být sám, odstřižen od současného divného světa. Vracím se ke svým kořenům a poslouchám jen kapely, které v sobě mají drive a pradávnou sílu. Temný a chladný vichr ze severu! Death, black, thrash, punk, hardcore album, které vás smete z povrchu zemského! 


Asphyx says:

Your bones are frozen as you uncover another moldy grave. Far to the north, in forests shrouded in bloody mist. Sometimes you want to be alone, cut off from the strange world around you. You return to your roots and listen only to bands that have drive and ancient power. REAPING FLESH from Norway are among the chosen ones. Among the dark ones who can use their music to depict ancient rituals for summoning dark forces.

It only took me a few listens to know that I was in the right place. The same corrupt blood runs through my veins and those of the band. Let's go back in time to a time when extreme metal was not divided into individual styles as meticulously as it is today. Here we find references to death metal, thrash, cold black metal, but also the rawness of hardcore and the unrestrained nature of punk. The result is a cocktail that must appeal to all honest gravediggers, among whom I have proudly counted myself for almost 35 years. I recommend a dark room and the volume turned all the way up. 


Almost every Friday, when I come home tired from work, I search my discography for bands that will flush my brain with acid. I open a beer, the nearest coffin, and let the music just wash over me. There is something wild, sharp, cold, and completely captivating that I hear and feel from the new album "Death Creeps". I enjoy the well-done sound (Mixed by Martin Bowitz (Store Studio) and mastered by Magnus Lindberg (VRTKL Audio), which adds even more credibility to the recording. Suddenly, I'm no longer sitting in my favorite morgue, but wandering far north in the woods. It's completely dark and cold around me. My steps eventually lead me to a seemingly abandoned cemetery. Legend has it that the damned were once buried here. I sit down on a roughly hewn stone and press play on my player again. Here, in complete solitude, the power of this album stands out the most. But I can also imagine a small club on the outskirts of a dirty city. Just a few true fans. I'll stand in the front row and enjoy the gloomy, powerful melodies. REAPING FLESH are in very good form this year. I like their approach, ideas, motifs, and, very importantly for me, their sincerity, realism, and authenticity. I think there's no question about it: this album is for old gravediggers, the damned, and all fans of burials. Again, even after a long time and many encounters with this album, I can only recommend this new release. It has everything you need for a true afterlife ritual. My bones freeze as I uncover another moldy grave. Far to the north, in forests shrouded in bloody fog. Sometimes I want to be alone, cut off from the strange world of today. I return to my roots and listen only to bands that have drive and ancient power. A dark and cold wind from the north! Death, black, thrash, punk, hardcore album that will wipe you off the face of the earth!


Tracklist:
1.Nothing Avails 02:54
2.Golden Calf 04:42
3.Plague 03:40
4.Blood Red Infernal 04:23
5.Shallow Grave 03:07
6.Devoid of Light 02:49
7.Bloodshed 02:54
8.Serpents 04:43

Line-up:
Frederik Hillestad – Vocals
Sindre Nicolaisen – Guitar
Endre Njøs – Guitar
Erlend Einmo – Bass
Stian Hansen – Drums

Additional Musician:
Simon Nome – Synths (tracks 4, 8)


úterý 11. července 2023

Recenze/review - REAPING FLESH - Abyss of Existence (2023)


REAPING FLESH - Abyss of Existence
EP 2023, Redefining Darkness Records

for english please scroll down

Nejdříve je nutné označit místo. Vybráno je podle starých spisů. Někde tady by měl být starý hrob. Pohřben je v něm prokletý kacíř. Ve zmrzlé zemi, ve shnilé rakvi. Říkalo se o něm, že žije v podzemí, že umí rozmlouvat s nemrtvými. Popraskané víko a v něm mrtvola, která drží v rukou nové EP italských death metalistů REAPING FLESH. Vložím jen do přehávače a ihned se přenesu po časové ose zpět. Do devadesátých let minulého století. Vychutnávám si morbidní melodie i atmosféru plnou zkažené krve.

Pro tenhle styl musíte věřit v temné síly. Italové na to jdou velmi dobře, uvěřitelně. Mají takový ten prašivý zvuk, který máme my, staří psi tolik rádi. Vše doplňuje stylový obal, na kterém je krásně morbidní motiv v černobílém stylu. Hrob je exhumován a vy si můžete vychutnat chladné a děsivé nálady. 


Stylově lze kapelu zařadit po bok nejen klasických floridských smeček (OBITUARY, MALEVOLENT CREATION, SOLSTICE, MORBID ANGEL, DEATH, MASSACRE, AUTOPSY). Základem jsou ostré riffy, chorobný vokál a zničující bicí. Nezapomíná se ani na melodie, které mě ihned pronikly až do morku kostí. Exhumované tělo i moje zkažená duše jsou již ve značném stádiu rozkladu. Přidávám hlasitost a pomalu přecházím na druhou stranu. Pro mě osobně je tohle jasným důkazem, že se nahrávka povedla. Vidím před sebou starou márnici, ve kterém REAPING FLESH uspořádali právě koncert. Pivo teče proudem a k tanci nás zvou ty nejkrásnější zombie. Deska je jako prach, který proséváš mezi prsty. Přemýšlíš u toho, jestli je možné, že existuje život po smrti. Nevím a neví to ani tihle maniaci, ale určitě nám umožnili nahlédnout na druhou stranu. Songy jsou totiž napsány opravdu velmi uvěřitelně, divoce, s poctivým feelingem. Jestli jste někdy viděli mršinu, pohozenou jen tak u cesty. Její mrtvé oči, její vnitřnosti, vytažené ven, tak určitě víte, o čem píšu a o čem je tahle deska. Je po okraj narvaná dobrou hudbou, kterou ocení všichni prokletí. Je jako mokvající rána, o které jste si mysleli, že se už dávno zahojila. Jenže stačilo několik málo tónů a začala vám znovu hnisat. "Abyss of Existence" se opravdu povedlo. Tvrdím to já, i všichni, kteří rádi tráví svůj čas v absolutní tmě. Na pitevně by mohli vyprávět. Desku jsem poslouchal nejčastěji v noci, to nejlépe vynikly jednotlivé odstíny krve a černoty. Rakev je otevřena a mrtvola v ní se mnou rozmlouvá. Album se jí líbí, stejně jako mě. Nezbývá, než vám tyhle italské maniaky doporučit. Starodávný death metalový hrob, který byl právě exhumován! Hnis, horor, temnota!


Asphyx says:

First you need to mark the place. It is chosen according to the old files. There should be an old grave here somewhere. A cursed heretic is buried there. In the frozen ground, in a rotten coffin. It was said he lived underground, that he could talk to the undead. A cracked lid and a corpse inside, holding the new EP from Italian death metallers REAPING FLESH. I'll just pop it into the player and immediately be transported back along the timeline. To the 1990s. I enjoy the morbid melodies and the atmosphere full of bad blood.

You have to believe in dark forces for this style. The Italians do it very well, believably. They have that dusty sound that us old dogs like so much. It's all complemented by the stylish cover art, which features a beautifully morbid motif in black and white. The grave is exhumed and you can enjoy the cold and eerie mood.


Stylistically, the band can be placed alongside not only the classic Florida packs (OBITUARY, MALEVOLENT CREATION, SOLSTICE, MORBID ANGEL, DEATH, MASSACRE, AUTOPSY). The basis is sharp riffs, sick vocals and devastating drums. Not forgetting the melodies, which immediately penetrated me to the core. Exhumed body and my corrupted soul are already in a considerable stage of decay. I turn up the volume and slowly make my way over to the other side. For me personally, this is a clear proof that the recording was a success. I see in front of me an old morgue in which REAPING FLESH have just held a concert. The beer is flowing and the most beautiful zombies are inviting us to dance. The record is like dust that you sift through your fingers. You wonder if it's possible that there is life after death. I don't know, and neither do these maniacs, but they've certainly given us a glimpse of the other side. The songs are written in a very believable, wild, honest way. If you've ever seen a carcass dumped on the side of the road. Its dead eyes, its guts, pulled out, you know what I'm writing about and what this record is about. It's packed to the brim with good music that all the damned can appreciate. It's like a gaping wound that you thought had long since healed. But it only took a few notes for it to start festering again. "Abyss of Existence" was a real success. I say so, and so does everyone who likes to spend their time in total darkness. They could tell a story in an autopsy room. I listened to recording mostly at night, that's when the various shades of blood and blackness stood out the best. The coffin is open and the corpse inside is talking to me. She likes the album as much as I do. I have no choice but to recommend these Italian maniacs to you. An ancient death metal grave that has just been exhumed! Rot, horror, darkness!

Tracklist:
01. Garden Of Grief 
02. Elements Of Life 
03. Lies Of Existence 
04. Self Incarnation 
05. Pit Of Eternity 
06. Fear Without Shape

REAPING FLESH is:
Andrea - Bass / Vocals
Marco - Guitars
Federico - Drums



A few questions - interview with death metal band from Italy - REAPING FLESH.


A few questions - interview with death metal band from Italy - REAPING FLESH.

Ave, can you introduce your band to our readers? – When was it founded and what style of music do you play etc.?

We are an old school death metal band based in Milan (Italy). The band started to exist in march 2022: first Marco (Guitar) and Federico (Drums) met and started to work on some rough materials, then Andrea (Bass and Voice) joined the band a few months later. The aim is to play OSDM inspired by bands from Florida, Tampa Bay vibe, that were slaying it in the late 80s/early 90s.

Where and under what conditions were you recording the new album? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering?

We recorded our first ep, Abyss of Existence,between December 2022 and January 2023, at ADSR Decibel Studio with Carlo Meroni doing all the recordings, mixing and mastering.


How many copies were released and which medium was used for this new edition (CD, digital, vinyl, cassette)?

Abyss of Existence was released on the 16th of June 2023 by Redefining Darkness Records and on every digital store or streaming platform. Being an EP and our first release, the label wanted to do a first round of 300CDs and 100 Tapes.

Who is the author of the lyrics and how were they created and about what do the lyrics deal with?

I’m (Andrea) the one mostly in charge of all the lyrics. We wanted to talk about the meaning of existence and the role of humankind in this world. Starting from some questions that I had about all this, I’ve decided to underline the music and the atmospheres that the ep has.

Who created the logo of the band, and who took care of the graphics and the website? What about you and social networks? Do you consider these things important?

Marco, our guitarist, is a tattooist (full time job) who loves to create new designs and has a great understanding of the whole DM “artwork” world. Roh Halus Mu ( https://www.instagram.com/rohhalusmu/ ) is the one behind our EP cover. There’s no way to run a band without socials In 2023, to communicate , share all updates, music and to keep in touch with whoever's digging what we are doing with our music. Probably nowadays it’s more important to keep a good flow and the right level of communication on your socials, rather than making really incredible music and not sharing it properly with the outside world.


Which label did you choose for releasing your album and why this label? Are you satisfied by how your label represents you and takés care about you?

Redefining Darkness Records, managed by Thomas Haywood, who’s working hard in order to keep underground music loud and alive more than ever. We are very satisfied about our collaboration with him, and we are looking forward for what will be coming in the near future.

Which bands do you idolize and where do you get your inspiration?

We are inspired by old school US death metal acts such as Obituary, Morbid Angel, Death, Autopsy, Massacre, Deicide, Malevolent Creation, etc... Basically all bands that started it and kept it alive till today.


How many gigs have you played? Which type of gigs do you prefer, whether it's (clubs or festivals) and which of your performances would you consider as the best?

We’ve been really selective on what shows to do as a band, considering that all of us have been in bands for 15+ years, since we’re preferring quality instead of quantity. At the end of July we’ll open for Dying Fetus in Rome, our first show outside of our hometown. To us there’s no preferred stage, a stage is a stage and we always want to perform as best as we can to whoever is in front moshing and listening to us.

What about your plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?

We are working on new music for what will be our first record and on planning more shows for this fall/winter. Our aim is one and simple: to play death metal the right way!

How and where can your fans contact you? Can you provide some contact information?



Email: thisisreapingflesh@gmail.com

Thanx for the interview.

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