Encryptor

Item: Drowning in Flesh
Author: D_Lister

Drowning in Flesh

(2001)

Reviewed by D_Lister

Discogs YouTube

Label Nascent Frost ProductionsDead Zine2001

black metal death metal doom metal grindcore

The spine of this CD has, besides the band name and album title 'NFPCD01' on it. Signifying the first release by Nascent Frost Productions as a label in and of itself. Drowning in Flesh is also the first album by the brutal death metal band Encryptor and proves to be a good start for both the band and the label.

Musically speaking we are given what I'd call mid to high paced death metal, nothing blazingly fast and some parts at a just a nice trudge along speed. This CD definitely sounds the best when listened to in headphones. The guitars are just so much clearer, when I was listening to it on the stereo they had a very muddy sound, in the headphones I can really hear the talent much more distinctly. Stand out instrument would have to be the drums with the biggest thing being that each song has very distinctive drumming. The drums do suffer on a few tracks from poor mixing, you hear some great drum tracks were recorded but they are mixed low and get almost completely lost (track 3 'Prophecy of Infinity' is a good example of this.) The vocals are a mixture of low end throaty growls, sort of in the Crimson Thorn style but not as 'burped' and a high pitched growl that while it is eerie sounding, at the same time doesn't quite sound right. I think sticking with the low growls and maybe even alternating with singing would have created a better and possibly scarier sound. I guess the most remarkable thing here is Encryptor was (as the time of this recording) a one man band. Felipe Diez is the man behind all instruments and vocals on this CD.

Lyrically there is nothing held back by Encryptor. However while these are certainly Christian lyrics they also seem to be old lyrics. What I mean is this is the type of lyrics you'd have expected a death metal band in the early 90's to pound out. Most songs deal with sinners living sinful lives, dying and going to hell, from different perspectives. In lyrics I'll again mention track 3 'Prophecy of Infinity' which from a lyrical stand point is nothing more than a praise and worship death metal song! Praise is one of the best sacrifices we can make for our Lord God and it's good to see a DM band stand up and record one in this manner.

The overview here is this is not the best CD out there, but it's pretty fun. The production lacks in parts and the guitars are muddy and a bit repetitious. Never the less this is a DM release that is worth while. I'd say if you enjoyed the Antidemon CD you're going to enjoy this one, if you didn't you may want to wait for Encryptor's next album as they certainly will be improving (they are now a 4 member band.) As I said a good start for both Encryptor and Nascent Frost Productions. Death heads check into this one.

7/10