Septic Flesh (Septicflesh) are a band of great accomplishments. Their last 3 albums have helped them carve out a new approach to symphonic metal. Instead of focusing on gothic metal, or female-fronted symphonic metal (Sirenia, Nightwish, Theatre of Tragedy, Tristania all included here) and how they use instruments in relation to the metal influences Septic Flesh have created a new style of music, something far more powerful and beautiful.
The Great Mass continues with the same approach as I feel Communion had – this isn’t just about metal, it’s about creating a new breed of classical music. It’s obvious that there are a lot of 1800-1900 classical influences here...though I feel a lot of these are due to how metal music is constructed as opposed to the band themselves limiting their influence. As an interview in Terrorizor stated, they are huge fans of Mozart and Stravinsky and both influence the album.
Many wont get this album. It’s not a death metal album and isn’t designed for that niche. This is about the orchestra being as brutal as the guitar work, something I’m extremely keen on hearing more and even more pleased to hear is happening already by such an accomplished band – the only other band to try anything similar I feel really is Xerath who are still not quite as advanced as Septic Flesh and really have a different approach.
The Great Mass starts with The Vampire from Nazareth, which in turn begins with haunting female vocals and a build of orchestration before pummelling your ears to remind you this isn’t a film score or a simple concept album, this is bloody well Septic Flesh and you’re here to hear them. The song shows that the vocals have changed a lot, with “We offer the sun” chanted beautifully over the heavy orchestra/metal intercourse below. The Great Mass itself is one of the more brutal affairs, but still keeps the orchestra as an essential. The guitars do perhaps loose power here, and I can understand why many have been put off by this...but at risk of sounding like a musical elitist, you’re stupid for being put off for brutality. Orchestras are equally brutal.
Pyramid God amused me when I first heard it – not in a “what a joke” way, but in the manor that it was so damn catchy...yet didn’t compromise any of their sound. I’d compare this to Anubis off Communion for this reason, even though the songs are not similar at all. I mean, this song has an orchestral breakdown (if there is such a thing...well, there is now, so screw you).
My favourite track has to be Oceans of Grey though. Man, this song was caught in my head all day, and I think it’s because it’s so damn deep and textured. It’s like rubbing your hand along a 3d copy of the sheet music, with each note grasping every senses attention before one is forced to experience the next. This song really shows the use of the orchestra well...from 1:10 when the death metal dies down to something that any composer would be proud of...this song makes me cry with how beautiful it is (one song I don’t mine paying £45 to get the orchestral version of)!
Rising is different from the other songs in the sense it barely uses the orchestra, and is very reminiscent of their first 2 albums in this sense...it’s composed in a very traditional Septic Flesh style and should please all of the elitists who think they’re rubbish now they use an orchestra (and trust me, they do exist).
Apocalypse ends up being one of the heaviest tracks (remember, orchestras are heavy – embrace it) and one of the most complex on the album...that is before you hear Mad Architect – a song that helps the listener to understand the previous song – are humans gods of destruction and their own creation. It’s an epic song (but please, next time, make it 3x as long!) that at around 2minutes in becomes a sprawling symphony of emotions – something the band has mastered.
Therianthropy...yeah, it’s a weird song. It’s really cheesy...it reminds me of Lunatica’s EmOcean to be honest...which starts playing in my head at the same time, even though really they aren’t that similar at all. Oh well, it’s still a good song...if a bit more like Inactive Messiah.
Overall I’ll give this 9.5 out of 10 – I can’t give it 10 as no album is perfect, but the album is extremely strong. It could do with longer songs – songs that TRUELY show off their style compared to their companions of the genre.
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