REVIEWS - "A Beautiful Sickness" CD (page 1)

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BNR Metal Pages - November 2004

Project: Failing Flesh was formed by a pair of Virginian metallists by the names of Tim Gutierrez and Kevin 131, (the latter of whom has made his mark as a producer and engineer of bands such as While Heaven Wept and Twisted Tower Dire), the duo joined by former Voivod vocalist Eric Forrest to complete the group. The band's debut effort, A Beautiful Sickness, was recorded in 2003 and was released independently by the band in a limited form before Karmageddon Media wisely signed them up and properly released the album in 2004. A Beautiful Sickness is a scorcher, mixing a bit of industrial metal, some mid-paced thrash, some Voivod-style weirdness, unexpected touches such as a twisted violin solo, and more, with a style all their own. Their cover of Venom's "Warhead" is one of the best metal cover songs in some time, but their own material is simply fantastic. A huge recommendation to extreme metal fans. 

Unrestrained - (9 out of 10) by Aaron McKay. Issue 22, October 2003

As a three-piece outfit, these guys are as tight as any Sodom effort to date, minus the experience and longevity, of course. Instantly recognizable on this effort is the band's wickedly superior drumming especially on the opening track "A Beautiful Sickness." A clearly defined separation on the instrumentation also seems to be a calling card for Project: Failing Flesh. What I mean by that, largely, is the choppiness of the guitar riffs layered fantastically over a discernable bass line. No substitute for a pronounced, pounding bass I always say. There is no lack of powerfully heavy chops on this effort, but what really gives Project: Failing Flesh their individuality, other than their uncommon name, is the science of the remarkable and understated engineering of a sonic exercise in brutality. There are light references to My Dying Bride, musically, cut with all the meticulousness of a Dying Fetus track, smoothed over with a Sacrifice (Soldiers of Misfortune) vocal similarity. "9mm Movie," "Entrance Wound," "Highwire Act," (riff packed!) and the Venom cover "Warhead" are favourites off this nearly flawless demo. Truthfully I now have trouble deciding between the P:FF version and the Massacre cover of "Warhead" as the superior of the two recordings. Anyone who knows my taste and my love for Massacre's musicianship knows that is a compliment of the highest magnitude! Many good things are headed this band's way if given the chance. Get in on the ground floor now so you can say loud and proud that you were a Project: Failing Flesh fan "way back when..."

Starvox - by Kirin Anderson. August 2003

Fuck yeah. Death Metal mixed with all kinds of putrid leftovers from the back of the refrigerator, and blended to a froth. Weird piano bits. Echoey interludes and orchestral fertilizer, all growing the black orchid of "A Beautiful Sickness" in the dark. Project: Failing Flesh (PFF) are like Prong and Voivod on crack and worshipping Satan. Or, how 'bout this one. PFF are like a Sepultura tick on the rotting flesh of Skinny Puppy. 

Usually when I review a CD, I listen to it as much as I can before I write the review. If I don't like the thing, I try changing mediums, take it to my car, put it on the stereo loud instead of headphones or whatever. Most of the time when a review is done, I put the CD on the shelf for future reference and to help collect up the swirling dust that plagues me so. My challenge with this CD is that I don't want to stop listening to it to do other reviews. In the two days I've been listening to it, I've moved the artwork and CD to my car CD wallet, and filed the empty jewel case away. Hey guys. tour soon, mmmkay? 

RevelationZ -  (9.5 out of 10) by David Atkinson. August 2003

Spinning Blades, scattered debris, severed limbs, decapitation, and general mayhem ensued. The soundtrack to this terror? Project: Failing Flesh as I mow my lawn :)

Well, if you were an insect in the path of a lawn tractor that's how you'd describe it I think. Especially if the guy driving that tractor had the same dazed look in his eyes that I did as I listened to one of the best extreme metal albums ever!

Project: Failing Flesh or P:FF, as I will further refer to them, have indeed created an album that will serve as a benchmark in extreme metal. For one, these guys don't have a record contract and two, there is only three of them. Sure there are other three piece outfits out there but none of them have achieved so much as these guys have on this album. Let's start with a name that's very recognizable in metal. The former Voivod throat, Mr. Eric Forrest, he is the best ever here. Like he was made for this band. Then you have Tim Gutierrez and Kevin 131. Eric being the vocalist and Tim and Kevin 131 are listed as "instruments". Let me say that "instruments" means Guitars, Bass, Drums, and Keyboards, Violins, Cello, and who knows what else. 

If that weren't enough, and it is, Kevin 131 recorded and engineered and P:FF produced it. No label money, no deal at all. It doesn't hurt that Kevin 131 has his own studio with which he makes a living, but that aside, it is amazing these guys have put out a musically superior and sonically superior album out on their own. When I say sonically superior, I'm talking as good if not better than the famed Fredrik Nordstrom, Studio Fredman stuff. Calling themselves "scientists" in the bio I received is an apt description of the precise metal on this album. As if a mad scientist formulated these songs from complex chemical structures.  Calling all metal labels... send your bands to Kevin 131 for recording. He's good, damn good. O.K. well now that I have tried and hopefully succeeded in peaking your interest. Let me get to the album for you. 

I don't normally  take albums in a track by track manner. I feel I must on this album because the songs have so many different influences popping up. 

"A Beautiful Sickness":  Title track and the song that got me interested in the first place. Kicks off with a marching snare drum pattern tightly repeated with rhythm guitars blazing and a nice melody guitar line on top of it. Then it brakes right into a chugging riff where Eric begins his dark emoting vocal, then to a little taste of a Voivodian pre-chorus. Into a church organ layered chorus where Eric breaks out his clean vocals. One of the few times he does a clean vocal, and I hope on the next album he will do more because it is real tight! Did I mention this tune was pretty quick in tempo? No.. well it is. 

"Planet Dead":  One of my favorites on the album. Long sustaining heavy chords pound over a tumbling tom tom rhythm, then the guitars sync up to the tom tom rhythm and enter the keyboards with a sweet melody over the top of it. Intensity rises with the addition of a drum corps sounding tom rhythm. Reminds me of the drum line in high school band when they solo and you feel that raw drum power in your gut. They have captured it on this tune and it gives the music an unheard of intensity. There is some cello at the front of the song too. Eric sings it raw and heavy all the way through. Pure heavy metal thundering on this one!

"9mm Movie":  Starts of slow and heavy. Almost doom sounding. Not long before Eric starts in. Continues at same slow pace, but this is how the song retains it's power over the dark lyrics. Violins and cello return in middle section. Violin performs a twisted screechy solo that gives the song a horror movie, creepy feeling. As the song proceeds to the end the violins get more twisted and dissonant until the song fades out.

"Scene of the Crime":  Cool sample of some weird keyboard type effect at the front. Drums, guitar, and bass perform another display of perfectly synced timing in a marching snare pump fashion. Eric in full growl. This song hits on some progressive elements. Eric does a short clean vocal but it has a tremolo effect on it. The middle section breaks down to a slow heavier pace with some melody guitars thrown on top. Keys always pounding out a haunting rhythm in the background. Then back into the main guitar riffs/verses until the bad boy ends as heavy as it started.  

"Entrance Wound":  Fast and belligerent start, into a tom tom rumble again, then into a disjointed, almost progressive drum pattern followed by a strange chorus with piano banging out behind the heavy guitars and drums. Obsessive double bass pattern cranks out behind a very Voivodian vocal melody, sounding like Snake (Voivod) here. Then it gets more Voivodian when the guitar takes a page from Piggy's (also Voivod) book on odd chords. Another favorite track here. Eric era Voivod fans will love this one.  

"Long Silent Voices":  One of the band trademarks is how the rhythm sections are tightly synced. This song starts off that way but then breaks into some sustaining chord heaviness. Then a cool as crap breakdown where a piano plays in the gaps between a chugging synced rhythm. In the middle the song falls into a beautiful but haunting orchestra section, slow and brooding. Then back into the former sections until it closes with a bang. 

"Dementia Pugilistica":  Black metal speed and sound from the start but quickly goes to the P:FF trademark stylings. Some very technical riffing on them all but this one is really super tight. Pretty straightforward extreme metal but full of hooks, very memorable.  

"Taste of the Lie":  Don't know if you have ever heard of an old band called Circle of Dust. This sounds like them. Heavy, tech, industrial metal. Drum machine kicking some odd rhythms and  fills all over it with pops and squeaks of machine like samples happening too. Detuned grunge madness with Eric growling like a madman! Lovely! Don't let the ending effect freak you out. Your stereo is not falling apart... I thought my batteries were dying in my CD player when I heard it. Everything starts to fuzz out like your speakers are blown, but they're not.... so don't send it back to them thinking there is something wrong with the disc... it is intentional.  

"Highwire Act":  Slayer-like beginning. Then it pops into  recent Dimmu Borgir speed for a few bars then into a break down of a Bolt Thrower type groove metal. At this point I flip the lawn tractor into 5th gear and start bobbing my head like a white boy at a Snoop Dogg concert. This track has soul man. Groove-a-licious! Hit that Dimmu Borgir speed for another round and then it goes into a doom metal slow break down at which it ends.  

"Warhead":  Classic Venom song covered here. Done up P:FF style. Too band Venom didn't have access to the recording sound there guys have. This is heavy man... HEAVY! Venom tribute album compilers should put this one on top of the list. Excellent. 

A quick note on the lyrics: I will tell you there are no cuss words but other than that I don't generally comment on lyrics. Lyrics are usually subjective unless the song is about a particular story or person. So here is the old rule to read them and take what you want from them. I can't tell you what they mean. That's why I usually don't mention lyrics in my reviews, in case you haven't noticed.

OK, that's my feeble breakdown attempt of the album. Now pop on over to www.projectfailingflesh.com and download a couple of their MP3's , read some stuff about them, and buy the disc if you want to. They only made 300 copies so act quick. Once they sign a deal they will re-issue it with different artwork. So the first 300 will be collectors editions of a band that will certainly go far and dare I say bring hope to the American metal masses who are sending their cash over to Sweden for the latest and greatest bands. Well, save that cash and send it to good ole Virginia, you won't regret it. Check out my interview with Tim Gutierrez too. 

    Quintessence - by Wayne Klinger. June/July 2003

A 3-piece band featuring ex-Voivod vocalist Eric Forrest with a very excellent 10-track release that is a blend of death metal, hints of Voivod, God Forbid, Believer, and Strapping Young Lad. "9mm Movie" is my perfect example of the attributes mentioned. There's also a very interesting cover of Venom's "Warhead" on here and just amazing how many good bands are out there and labels are just tremendously dumb for not signing them. This is as original as it gets musically... there isn't a category in which to generalize this band in. One of a kind and very identifiable in my opinion; a contender for the 2003 poll for sure!

Silent Scream - (8.5 out of 10) by Fulvio Adile. September 2003

The biggest surprise of the 2003. There's no other way to describe the debut of Project: Failing Flesh, an American trio I hadn't ever heard anything about but that literally exploded in my ears from the first listening. An encyclopedical range album, that goes through heavy metal vertically and horizontally recovering the best made along almost thirty years: but be careful, since the band does not work putting styles side by side assembling the various parts in long and heterogeneous suites (as it happens in symphonic black metal, in certain kinds of crossover and progressive), but rather through means of a synthesis of the various ingredients, that are merged in a very compact and thick whole with a strong and new flavor. Sure cutting it short we could say they play a sort of modern thrash metal, but with deep roots in the eighties: nothing to share then with the rhythmical heaviness and typical light and shade effects of the "new thrash" scene (latest Sepultura, Machine Head, Soulfly, Skinlab); though without missing some truly groove riff, Project: Failing Flesh rather recall the merciless cybernetic coldness of huge bands like SYL, Meshuggah, Fear Factory, some Ministry, and, undoubtedly, even the less human Voivod. Indeed it couldn't be different since as frontman of the trio we find that Eric Forrest that contributed to shape two of the best albums of Voivod themselves ("Negatron" and "Phobos") with his raged uvula, and that here sometimes performs some ethereal clean lines, likewise Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory. Like in every big respectful album "A Beautiful Sickness" does not stupify for the technical rate of the musicians but rather for the courage and ease by which technique is used in every context of the album: "Planet Dead" starts with a dramatic orchestral crescendo that flows into a fast power thrash riff, that ends with a liturgical lullaby. "Entrance Wound" wonders for a strange piano put in a refrain that unleashes the compressed spring of the verse, to conclude with double bass drums explosion and Voivod-like dissonances. "Long Silent Voices" goes to through a glacial keyboard before burning in a frenetic up-tempo that flows into a hallucinated keyboard game that preludes to a decadent doom theme. "Dementia Pugilistica" is the most extreme track, with a Slayer-like riff and a heavy blast beat in the refrain, before slaughtering titan variation to headband 'till losing your head. "9mm Movie" is a minimal song, a slow and heavy crawling that explodes into a gloomy cello scale (played by Clayton Ingerson of Dysrhythmia). The title-track is a rocking mid-tempo that regularly walks 'till a sudden acceleration and a doom slowing down don't cut it all. "Taste of the Lie" an industrial piece ala Ministry (do you know "The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste"?), glacial and disturbing. "Highwire Act" a direct assault that turns into a hypnotical Voivod riff. "Scene of the Crime" a cybernetical cold song that must pass through a thousand rhythmical adventures before concluding with a broken riff. Nothing is prey of case, nothing follows cliches, but it's not music for refined amateurs or for egocentric intellectuals: it's burning metal that strikes hard and hurts, where nobody ever dared to hit you before.  

Transcending the Mundane zine - (9 out of 10) by Brett VanPut. June 2003

A Beautiful Sickness indeed. Tim Gutierrez and Kevin 131 are two musicians from Virginia and their band is called Project: Failing Flesh. The style of music is technical thrash with industrial elements. Their union with ex-Voivod vocalist Eric Forrest turns out to be one of the best fits ever. To dismiss Project: Failing Flesh as industrial metal would be a big mistake. I was a huge fan of "Negatron" and "Phobos," the two Voivod albums with Eric singing. They took Voivod into a new direction and made their sound heavier than ever without losing their science fiction weirdness. Upon Eric's departure he formed the disappointing E-Force. E-Force is more of a straight metal record. Where Eric's talents really lie are in his screaming.

The ten tracks on "A Beautiful Sickness" are varied. The opening title track has some sharp stop and go groove, actually quite similar to what you would expect from Meshuggah. "Planet Dead" is also groove thrash oriented, but the keyboards add a distinctive atmosphere. "9mm Movie" is dreadfully slow but creepy with a guest viola appearance from Dysrhythmia's Clayton Ingerson. "Scene of the Crime" is technical thrash, again with those precise sharp riffs. "Long Silent Voices" is actually reminiscent of recent Strapping Young Lad. "Dementia Pugilistica" is a combination of punk and old school eighties metal. "Taste of the Lie" would sound appealing to Ministry fans. To show their old school metal dedication, Project: Failing Flesh close with a cover of Venom's "Warhead," easily the most befitting song to the band's style.

Simply an amazing debut which will hopefully not be overlooked. Could be a top ten release of the year. 

Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles - (8 out of 10) by Aaron Small. Issue 71, August 2003

Eric Forrest, former vocalist of Voivod and now E-Force has hooked up with Tim Gutierrez and Kevin 131 (both listed only as "instruments") in a cyber metal sonic experiment. Sounding like a mutated Fear Factory collaborating with Devin Townsend, the ten tracks are brutal and punishing, pinpointing precise danger zones. Chaos is courted by a seemingly unstoppable futuristic musical mechanism that sees keyboards careening into thrash like never before. Completely unexpected yet rather welcome is the viola solo performed by Clayton Ingerson from Dysrythmia on "9mm Movie." Although the cover of Venom's "Warhead" plods along the industrial path, it's not nearly as infused as the originals.

Wormgear zine - by Marty Rytkonen. June 2003

Finally... a modern metal release that takes advantage of technology, without allowing the often synthetic characteristics of drum machines and keyboards to detract from the organic nature of their music. Featuring Eric Forrest from Voivod fame as stand in vocalist, Failing Flesh fuses varying doses of power in the guitar rhythms, with very fluid riffage that piles on a tasteful foundation, while more incisive harmonies tear through the power chords with interest and intent. The drum sound is very life like and sharp, driven by very astute programming, giving the "Chaos A.D." (Sepultura) sounding crunchy guitar work on "Planet Dead" even more punch and precision. The tempo fluctuation between tracks is truly inventive, keeping the album flowing along and interesting, from the more doom laden and emotive "9mm Movie," to such tension stirring tracks like "Dementia Pugilistica," where blasting speed is applied and Forrest's vocals sear the progressions onto the digital plastic with contempt through venomous words. When keyboards and odd violin applications are intertwined with the music, their inclusion never takes away from the vocal or guitar intensity, walking the perfect line between ambiance and multi-layered instrumentation that gives this album a technically complex aura. Forrest made himself known in Voivod as a consistent screamer, but could emulate Snake's vocal weirdness when needed, and even though this remains true of his performance on "A Beautiful Sickness," he demonstrates levels of intensity and tonal inflections that he may not have realized in Voivod. His performance capitalizes on and adds to the diversity/density of this album. Somewhere between thrash, death, and older Fear Factory metal, exists the multi-faceted and creative entity known as Project: Failing Flesh, who show the listener where their musical appreciation came from by ending this self released album with a cover of Venom's "Warhead." Nice way to dress your cyborg up with a button and patch decorated denim vest, and cutting it loose on the metal populace. This album was a nice surprise.   

The Metal Observer - (10 out of 10) by Wes Jaques, July 2003

Wow! Goddamn! I love it when I get something that says, "We're going to be signed soon," and usually I just roll on the floor laughing because everyone thinks they are going to be stars and I have received too many demos from great bands who never even get a look from a label. I received demos from Daylight Dies- they made it. Warmachine- they are making it.  Soulscar- they should make it. And then on the other hand, I get releases people who have been on labels for years, and they should not be because the younger talent makes them suck so badly. But I won't name any names or make any references to muscle-bound Elvis wannabes-oops-Danzig *cough*cough*.

From the opening riff that sounds close to the opening riff to Arch Enemy's "Wages of Sin," this record continues on the same path as the afore mentioned Arch Enemy album. Brilliance! This is like "Wages of Sin" with a male vocalist, minus the dazzling guitar solos, however, it is catchy and powerful, and this band is the shiznit, my niznit!

This band sent their info and I guess there is some connection to some bigger bands from one of the member's brother's sitter's mailman who goes to church with the manager of Kentucky Fried Chicken manager who used to babysit the dog of a band member's agent from Norway of something. But I really don't give a shit who you know. Show me what's up and lay it out on the table and we will see who wins!

This is on the level of the Warmachine and Soulscar for demo releases. This should be major soon!

Metal Storm - (8.5 out of 10) by Deadsoulman. July 2003

A small introduction before talking about the music: Project: Failing Flesh is a newly formed American band with the ex-Voivod singer Eric Forrest, that plays experimental melodic thrash. Project: Failing Flesh is the kind of band able to create new stuff with old recipes. On the background, this is only pure thrash like you've heard 1000 times. But this first impression is quickly swept away by the fact that this band, as it's name reveals, is created upon a concept, a project about medicine, organ transplants, and so on.

The music goes along with the project: it is in fact very experimental, to the classic guitar riffs are added dissonant chords of a viola ["9mm Movie"], a few lines of a free jazz piano, passages with an organ, and more generally keyboard parts that oscillate between pure industrial and ambient. The plus of these instruments, more than the fact that they are perfectly integrated in the music so that the whole does not sound disorganized, is the way they are tuned: it gives an impression of madness, of dementia, that gives light to the lyrics. For example, the psychotic waltz of the piano on "Entrance Wound": it sounds like discord, but it creates an atmosphere of sickness, as if you were in the brain of a mentally diseased person.

In my opinion, this is the very purpose of this album, making the listener feel the sickness, the schizophrenia, and all the diseases one can meet in an asylum. The award of weirdness goes to the orchestral arrangements on "Long Silent Voices," that sound like they have been written by a mad genius. Other interesting features: "Taste of the Lie" sounds like early Ministry, nearer to industrial metal than to thrash, and this album contains a very personal cover of Venom's "Warhead."

In a nutshell, if you want an idea of what this album is like just imagine Devin Townsend writing songs for Arch Enemy. It's experimental side makes it hard to enter, but I bet we will hear about them in a few years. Project: Failing Flesh is in the genre of bands that get the music moving. 

Now, please excuse me, I'm going to take my pills, this album attacks my mental sanity.

Voices from the Darkside - by Steven Willems. July 2003

Frank was so kind to give me a copy of this CD, asking me to review it (I guess because he knows that I still think the Voivod are absolute gods, right Frankie...? ;-) (how did you find this out so quickly? -Ed.). Anyway, for all those out there where the bandname Project: Failing Flesh probably won't ring a bell: Project: Failing Flesh is the new band of former Voivod bass player/ vocalist Eric Forrest. I've listened to this disc already quite a lot and to be honest I didn't know what to think of it in the very beginning. But the more you listen to it, the more the material starts to grow on you... Atmosphere-wise, I dare say that this album even reminds me a lot of the Voivod opus "Phobos" because of it's nihilistic and cold atmosphere. The album kicks off with 'A Beautiful Sickness' which already gives you a clear indication of the band's sound... lots of double-bass and moody keyboards here which suit the song perfectly. 'Planet Dead' is also a really aggressive tune with very surprisingly some Bay Area influences thrown in (Exodus, first Channel Zero album...) which really works. '9mm Movie' is really heavy slow-motion and very doomy. 'Scene of the Crime' as well as 'Long Silent Voices' are much more industrial sounding and remind me a lot of the better tracks of Fear Factory. 'Dementia Pugilistica' is again a very aggressive tune with loads of double-bass while 'Taste of the Lie' sounds a bit more experimental thanks to some electronic influences. The album ends with a solid but nevertheless to my opinion not that spectacular version of the Venom oldie 'Warhead.' The whole sound and approach of this album is pretty modern but nevertheless I do like it a lot. You can easily hear the Voivod influences here and there although I have to stress Project: Failing Flesh sound much more aggressive, mainly because of the intense double-bass drumming (although I do have the impression it's maybe programmed by a computer or a sequencer as it sounds incredibly tight and mechanic). I'm pretty happy that Eric Forrest managed to come up with such a strong output after his departure with Voivod. His vocals sound here pretty hateful but they totally fit the record. I think that, as no label is mentioned, this album is kind of a demo. Nevertheless, sound-wise, it totally beats the shit out of many current releases. Original, inventive, and definitely a band to keep your eyes on. If there's any justice, they will be signed by a smart label in no time. 

Into Obscurity - by Dan Donahue. June 2003

Project: Failing Flesh is a three man band that play an eclectic and experimental style of metal. They feature two musicians who handle all the guitar work, drumming (although I think the drums may be the result of a sequencer,) and programming. Eric Forrest lends his throat to this machine. 

I'd compare Project: Failing Flesh to a more industrial Fear Factory or a less techno The Kovenant. Their avant-garde style is influenced by death metal, but with heaps of programming, as well as an industrial/mechanic atmosphere. The nine tracks on here are all equally original and inventive, although from song to song, you start to notice that the guitar chugging becomes a little repetitive which is a bit boring. Eric Forrest brings to the table experience in the originality department, having spent time with the leaders of the avant-garde metal experiment Voivod. His vocals are more than perfect for this record. They sound tortured and pissed, but they have a feel to them that really complements the band's mechanical nature. The tenth and final song is a take on Venom's "Warhead" done in Project:  Failing Flesh style. It's quite welcomed and interesting.

"A Beautiful Sickness" is the perfect blend of metal and industrial. Some bands overdo the mechanized sound of their music to the point where it sounds like four robots started a band, while others throw in barely any which comes off as sounding half-assed or awkward. Project: Failing Flesh got the formula exactly correct.  

Tartarean Desire -  by Vincent Eldefors. May 2003    

The American three-piece Project: Failing Flesh is probably a new acquaintance to most of you and it is also a very young band. The members are however no newcomers to the metal scene. The band is made up of Tim Gutierrez and Kevin 131, the latter having produced albums for bands like Brave and Grand Belial's Key. The third member is no other than Eric Forrest who was the vocalist of Canadian thrash masters Voivod and now also fronts the new band E-Force who are signed to French label Season of Mist. "A Beautiful Sickness" is the self-produced debut album from the band and it is probably not what you would have expected from these individuals. The music here is mid-paced industrial metal with lots of sampling and dark churning guitars. The vocals are close to thrash metal but it is more of shouting than growling or screaming. There are influences from doom metal, Nine Inch Nails, Fear Factory, and Ministry but most importantly the album is heavy all the way through. The production is superb and the only thing I don't like about it is that there are already so many other American bands doing similar things and this kind of music easily gets a little monotonous. A fine first effort from a band that we will probably hear more of in the future. You just have to love a band that includes a sample from "The Exorcist"!

Metalcore Fanzine - by Chris Forbes. June 2003 

Grinding, pounding death metal with a touch of industrial feel to it sort of like Godflesh playing full out death metal at times. Very haunting vocals and even the keyboard parts work for this band. An outstanding effort and I am looking forward to hearing more.

Ad Noctum - by Christian Metzner. July 2003

+ Published in German. A pretty loose English translation appears below the original review.

Aber hallo, auch nicht schlecht was es hier an guter Musik gibt. Die Amis von Project: Failing Flesh spielen einen sehr ausgereiften Metal, der sowohl Death Metal, Thrash Metal und ein paar Hardcore Einflüsse beinhaltet und durch die Bank weg überzeugen kann. Schon der erste Song und zugleich Titeltrack "A beautiful sickness" macht deutlich, dass es sich bei den Jungs um kompetente Musiker handelt, die wissen wie sie ihre Instrumente bedienen müssen. Ausserdem wird die Ideenvielfalt der Band deutlich, denn ich finde es echt stark, was Project: Failing Flesh hier gleich für Hammerriffs zum Besten geben. Sowohl im schleppenden als auch im Doublebass Bereich ist alles im grünen Bereich und die Kombination von beidem ist den Jungs gut gelungen. Hinzu kommt ein echt cooler Sänger, der über eine sehr aggressive Stimme verfügt und den Songs richtig Leben einhaucht. Ein weiterer absoluter Pluspunkt der Scheibe ist die gebotene Abwechslung, jeder Song weist unterschiedliche Melodiebögen auf und unterscheidet sich wirklich von anderen Songs. Und dennoch passen alle Songs zu Project: Failing Flesh. Mir sagt das Album schon sehr beim ersten Hördurchgang zu, da die Songs einfach knallen ohne Ende. Für die CD spricht auch die professionelle Aufmachung und der vorzügliche Sound, der alle Songs zu wahren Krachern macht. Da klingt das dann auch mal richtig geil, wenn in den Songs sogar Instrumente wie die Geige zum Vorschein kommen und eine traurige Melodie zum Besten geben. Hut ab!

Watch out for this record, the "armies" (Americans) from Project: Failing Flesh make great music with influences from death metal, thrash, and hardcore. The first song, title track, "A Beautiful Sickness," shows these guys are competent and know how to play their instruments. They are really creative. I am really impressed with the guitar playing. There is a good combination of  double bass drumming mixed with some slower parts.  Project: Failing Flesh have a great singer with an aggressive voice and he makes the music come to life. Another good thing about this record is it mixes it up and every song is different. This record is really original and I liked it on first listen. It has professional artwork and the mix and sound are professional as well which really adds to the quality. Also in the music is a good mix of some violin and sad melodies. Good job, great release... hats off!

Vampster - (4 out of 5) by Gert Kopf aka"Psycho". August 2003

Recht unspektakulär, in straightem Old School-Thrash Metal, beginnt das Titelstück "A Beautiful Sickness" von Project: Failing Flesh, bei denen ex-Voivod -Frontmann Eric Forrest am Mikro steht. Das Stück bekommt dann schnell eine grindige Wandlung im Synthesizergewand, welche die zunächst derben Vocals des Songs durch cleanen Gesang ablöst und experimentelle Klangelemente einbindet. Experimentelle Musik wird beim Trio eh groß geschrieben. So kommen neben allerhand Synthesizer-Tunes auch klassische Instrumente zum Einsatz. Wie etwa bei "Planet Dead", welches sehr hypnotisch durch immer wiederkehrende Drumrhythmen auf mich wirkt und die Streicher gekonnt eingesetzt wurden. Nach diesem Endzeitbeginn des Songs schlägt jener schnell in eine heftige Death/Thrash-Nummer um (mit atmosphärischer Orgel mit Mittelteil), die gegen Ende das Anfangsthema wieder aufgreift. Als Gastmusiker für "9mm Movie" konnten Project: Failing Flesh Clayton Ingerson (Dysrhythmia) an der Viola gewinnen. Dieses Stück beginnt ebenfalls sehr monoton im simplen 4/4-Groove, was aber nicht negativ gemeint ist, sondern sich recht brachial und verzweifelt auf den Hörer nieder schlägt. Hat etwas von den weniger deftigeren Parts von Disbelief. Die Viola wurde so was von schräg und morbide eingesetzt, dass es schon wenig cool ist. Zartbesaitete Gemüter werden sich bestimmt von der nächstbesten Teppichkante stürzen. "Scene Of A Crime" startet sehr Fear Factory -mäßig und behält dies auch achtzig Prozent des Tracks bei. Abgehacktes Riffing kombiniert mit harten bzw. cleanen Vocals und kalten Soundeffekten. Es folgt "Entrance Wound", das triolisch im heftigen Death/Thrash wildert und durch abgedrehte Pianoklänge verfeinert wird. Auch "Long Silent Voices" setzt zunächst auf einen mächtigen Groove, der später in kontrollierten Thrash umgewandelt wird und wiederum experimentelle Klassik-Soundparts aufweist. Eric schreit sich einmal mehr die Seele aus dem Leib. Nach den erneut gelungenen Weltuntergangs/Extrem/Klangcollagen-Death/Thrash-Songs "Dementia Pugilistica", "Taste Of The Lie" und "Highwire Act" legen Project: Faliing Flesh noch einen drauf und präsentieren die Venom-Coverversion "Warhead". Sehr geil, intensiv und vor Kraft strotzend, habe ich bislang noch kein besseres Cover dieses Tracks gehört. "A Beautiful Sickness" ist eine rundum gelungene Veröffentlichung und weist für eine Eigenproduktion einen sehr fetten Sound auf. Wer Interesse bekommen hat, sollte mal über die Bandhomepage Kontakt zur Band aufnehmen und sich dieses Stück extremer und experimenteller Musik ordern.

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