King is the exciting new album from Fleshgod Apocalypse and is an all-round adventurous and engaging piece that will draw the listener in and keep them captivated from start to finish. Fleshgod Apocalypse have really mastered the art of storytelling with King; the flow of the album is magnificent, gliding from song to song with ease and it’s really rewarding to listen to as a result due to how well everything fits in together.
Of course, the emphasis is focused on the symphonic elements of the music, which is the main driving force behind King, and the way Fleshgod Apocalypse juxtapose it against the heavier elements of their sound is tremendous. They’ve found exactly the right balance and it really gives the songs that extra lift as a result.
Indeed, it’s difficult to point out particular highlights because all of the songs are so damn good, but perhaps one of the strongest points of the piece is the middle section of the album, with the way seventh track Paramour (Die Leidenschaft Bringt Leiden) serves as a sort-of prelude for the following track And The Vulture Beholds. The former song is a very gentle-sounding piece, featuring fairly simplistic piano accompanying some beautiful female vocals, before it leads the way into the latter, which is essentially the track’s more metal counterpart, and the pair of tracks really leave an impression on you as a result.
As a whole, King is just a mighty piece – it’s as simple as that. Now bring on Nummirock!
9/10
