BLISS OF FLESH – Metempsychosis

vote
6.0

• Bands:
  BLISS OF FLESH
• Duration: 00:40:38
• Available from: 07/11/2025
• Label:

• Black Lion Records

Streaming not yet available

Fifth album for Bliss Of Flesh, a French group that has been operating on the darkest edges of typically Northern European extreme metal for about twenty-five years, building a bridge between death metal and black metal with a decidedly atmospheric tone. After the discreet “Tyrant”, from 2020, the transalpines seem to have taken a bit of a break, and we were curious to see if the past time would bring new life to a group that for better or worse has always navigated on the sufficiency and in the footsteps of other names: the primary comparison has always been with the more modern and pompous Behemoth, and that doesn't change much with this work.

The album explores the theme of metempsychosis, as the most astute will have guessed from the title, recounting the transmigration of the soul after death, through the story of an individual who witnesses helplessly the progressive deterioration of his own five senses. This slow physical decline becomes a descent into madness and pain, an internal journey that passes through the phases of loss and mourning, forcing the protagonist to confront an increasingly alien and infernal body and world.
Certainly, as with the previous work, the thematic part is always very interesting, while for the musical one we are a little less amazed. “Metempsychosis” has few defects from a purely technical point of view: the production is crystal clear, the guitars are catchy but also know where to go so as not to seem too much so (as happens in some acceleration on “The Awakening”, certainly well done) and Necurat's voice does its duty both in terms of power and theatricality (which also appears in more or less clean recitations and singing).
But precisely this success on paper highlights the main limitation of the work: the strong idea, the spark that makes it memorable, is missing. Everything runs smoothly and cleanly and, as per tradition at Bliss Of Flesh, without any big surprises.
In addition to the aforementioned Behemoth we hear some references to the more mannerist Cradle Of Filth, with many symphonic inserts and some piano passages certainly played with passion, but whose progression we can imagine even before having listened to the album for the first time.

The result is a competent but predictable album, which fails to stand out in the sea of ​​record releases and which always gives us a sense of “mid-afternoon band at any festival”.
However, there are flashes of energy: “If Only” builds tension and atmosphere effectively, while “I Deny” offers tight riffing alternating with sharp rhythms which still make Bliss Of Flesh a band with a solid and professional performance. In summary, “Metempsychosis” is a well-played, well-finished and serious album, which confirms the French band for what it is: classic safe used which doesn't leave you stranded, but which is good for the time you need, little more.