Fleshgod Apocalypse - Mafia (2010)

   The late '00s were the renaissance of technical and progressive brutal death bands, and Fleshgod Apocalypse just came with the flow. Their debut "Oracle" was remarkable because of it's excellect sound quality, but since it wasn't an uncommon tendency that time at similar bands, it didn't count extraordinary. 
   Like if "Oracle" wasn't enough brutal already, "Mafia" seemed to exceed the band's insane intensity, and also gave a hint about their future symphonic tendencies. In the form of short relaxing melodies they've occasionally showed up previously too, and they're not getting higher role here either. But the appearence of a second, clear singing vocal in nearly opera style on the side the brutal death slamming and deep growling was kind of strange alerady. These small surprises made the EP more colorful even in current amount because their appearence and timing was quite effective. Catchy leading melodies assisting to bond the extremities together into a balanced whole. This also gave a far different perspective to this style that wasn't experienced before. In form of experiments many bands have tried various things, even to involve symphonic elements, but in the case of Fleshgod Apocalypse the border between harmony and chaos seemed not only thinner, but even chaos itself was able to wear the disguise of harmony, to become consumable for mainstream audience too.