REVIEWS - "The Conjoined" CD (page 3)

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Kvltsite - (5 out of 5) by Srikanth Panaman. August 2007

When I heard this band's debut album The Beautiful Sickness 4 years ago, I pretty much thought it was one of the most genuinely refreshing takes on extreme metal at that point in time. Any metalhead who had even a remote inclination towards the more experimental bands, ala Voivod, Prong, Fear Factory, Godflesh, Celtic Frost – i.e., bands playing heavy as fuck guitar driven music while experimenting with the things surrounding it, would've had to hear it to believe how great this was.

The brothers Kevin and Tim work this band in Kevin's studio that produces a lot of cool bands like Raven and Dysrhythmia. They write music at their convenience, play all the instruments between themselves, record it all as and when they come up with cool ideas and generally run this as an exclusively studio effort. They got Eric Forrest from Voivod to sing on the first album and he did a great job lending his voice to the already-set pieces of music.

Anyone who'd heard that first album A Beautiful Sickness back when it was released, sure has been looking forward to a new album by these good blokes and hell, when I first heard The Conjoined three months ago I was immediately convinced that they haven't disappointed. But soon, with more listens, I realized that they've actually managed to out-do themselves.

Moving to a Greek Label called Burning Star Records and encompassing the aforementioned influences and more to come up with some great metal along with the occasional more modern brutal blast-beat-laden parts, experimental and grand arrangements using guest musicians playing trumpets, cellos, keyboard synths among others, this runs at almost 40 minutes and is absolutely a tip-top effort. Damn, that sentence would've been a paragraph if not for this one.

The experiments of P:FF continue with the various percussions and the programmed/sampled drums alongside some ass kicking live-played drums. These are just to accompany the real deal. That is, groovy riffy heavy thrashy deathy metal at its core. These geeks like to experiment with their sounds and toy with various ideas for their songs within that framework.

For a studio band that does a lot of work just adding to the already recorded parts, the guitars sound absolutely terrific, often dissonant and raw as it should be. Full marks to the mighty Gibsons, superb ears for tones and the great hands fiddling with the knobs.

Eric knows Tim and Kevin much better now than during the first album and hence the chemistry seems better, he's worked with them on the lyrics and has come up with all the great vocal lines as a team too. Frankly, I think this is the best coming from Eric till date. Some, if not most of the ideas here are just mindblowing. Got to watch out for Eric's band called E-Force that's about to release a new album this year.

In a nutshell, this is one of the most promising new bands. That says a lot, I know.

Give them a chance, which implies half a dozen listens at least, with full concentration - preferably with your mobile phones switched off and the music system cranked all the way up so you can hear everything that's going on. There's more to swallow than a jap girl caught in a bukkake filled with black guys.

Metal Revolution - (87 out of 100) by Bato. June 2007

Tim from an American unit Project: Failing Flesh has just sent me this promo of their new album entitled The Conjoined. Let it be said immediately; Project: Failing Flesh is a name to be remembered in the future. It is actually Eric Forest’s (Ex. Voivod & E-Force) old/new project. The band has been active since 2003 and the release of their debut A Beautiful Sickness. They are truly the pioneers of the extreme sound, but they are also experimenting a big deal, not satisfied with making just another death metal album. These guys are original and innovative; mixing different sounds and elements into a great unity called The Conjoined. CD consists of carefully composed and structured songs. There are a lot of screams, ass kicking riffs and awesome lyrics. To compare them to any other act would not be quite fair as I’ve said it earlier these guys are different from anything I’ve heard before. But if you let’s say mix a industrial sound of Fear Factory together with thrash assault of Voivod and brutality and aggression of death bands such Meshuggah and Grip Inc. I guess you have more or less a complete picture what this great trio is all about.

Metal Fanatix - (97 out of 100) by Thomas Mitchell. July 2007

This stuff is certainly some of the freshest and pulverizingly intense music in the metal world of late! Project: Failing Flesh can be described as thrash, death, speed or whatever. However, I would recommend a parallel somewhere between bizarre and outstanding. This is the three-piece’s 2nd release and follows suit nicely with their predecessor, “A Beautiful Sickness.” At the same time, however, “The Conjoined” is much more difficult to describe and also remains extremely catchy. The title track is the best example. The drums, percussion and bass pretty much hit note-for-note from a crushingly heavy standpoint and also delve into tribal and noise within seconds of each other. In the same track, Eric Forrest’s vocals range from his usual Voivod style scream to a Fear Factory clean to a guttural growl at times. Then you have horns, keys and guitars all running ape shit all over the place. The album as a whole is one huge wall of sonic brutality in one way or another. I can't say enough good things about this to compensate for the music. Matter of fact, the only setbacks are...well, nothing! It's all a matter of taste in styles. I just can't imagine no one giving this a try, though. Project: Failing Flesh is one of the best new bands in metal!! Check this out!!

Treats From The Underground - by Burt Wolf. July 2007

Project: Failing Flesh hail from Virginia & play a very different sounding style of Death Metal. They have a very mechanical & technical sound to their Death Metal style. There are lots of fantasy atmospheric parts mixed with in all the Death Metal chaos. They are a 3 piece that creates some very full sounding music & features Eric Forrest (ex-Voivod) on vocals. I liked the chugging groove they have in their sound, it reminds me of Fear Factory a lot. The vocals are done in a  harsh Death Metal type scream. These guys have a very original sound & the closest comparison would be Voivod, Sepultura & Fear Factory all mixed together!

Aardschok - (85 out of 100) by Robie Woning. May 2007

Rauwe apocalyptische metal met een stevige elektronische basis en een hoog Voivod-esh halte. Logish, zul je denken Zanger/bassist Eric Forrest fungeerde immers jarenlian als interimzinger bij de Canadese metal-avantgardisten en blift met zijn Project: Failing Flesh dus lekker in hetzelf muzikale straatje spleen. De grap is alleen dat het falend vien project op zijn eerst album ‘A Beautiful Sickness’ veel met thrash-georienteered en eendimensionaal klonk en helemae Nee. De drie betrokken muzikanten hebben namelijk duide hun best geddan om van ‘The Conjoined’ een veelzijdif en spuwend midtempo, worden gedragen door moddervette en keenen een vrij dreigende toonzetting. Een aantal tracks wat meer ingetogen van opzet en ontleent zijn sfeer voor aan tactisch geplaatste akoestische geluiden en vage electronische ingredienten. De band neemt ruim de tijd om riffs, ritm, en zangglijnen te varieren, en gaat experimenten zeker niet de weg. Zo wordt halverwege de opener van de CD al die baldadig op een piano gebeukt, sterven de hobo’s in “Unsight Unseen” een acute dood als het aan black metal rakende “Eve of Demise” losbarst en wordt met het absurde getoeter in titletrack een zwaar beroep op de tolerantie van de luistem geddan. Maar toch… wie zowel Voivod als Fear Factory als Strapping Young Lad kan waarderen, moet deze stoere en genzinnige CD zkeker even gaan beluisteren.

Hell Spawn - (88 out of 100) by Nico. July 2007

Toen het trio achter deze vreemde bandnaam, zijnde Eric Forrest (ex Voivod), Tim Gutierez en Kevin 131 in 2004 debuteerde met "A beautiful sickness" hadden ze deze opvolger ook al klaar. Het zoeken naar een nieuw label (na ontslag/ einde Karmageddon!?) zorgde ervoor dat het toch nog enige tijd duurde. Het werd uiteindelijk het Griekse Burning Star. Veel veranderingen moet je dus niet verwachten ten opzichte van het debuut. Project: Failing Flesh is de meest extreme progressieve metalband die ik ooit gehoord heb. Beter kan ik hun technische death die bulkt van weerspannige wendingen niet omschrijven. Je moet van niets verschieten in een P:PF nummer, niet van een elektro beat, niet van een piano intermezzo, niet van een jazzy saxofoon, niet van hopen medische termen, zelfs niet van een mainstream refreintje. Een gewaagd experiment dat enig tolerantievermogen vraagt van de, meer ruimdenkende, liefhebbers van extreme metal. Bizar boeiend of boeiend bizar, u kiest zelf maar!

Deaththrasher - by Armando Mutilator. July 2007

+ in both English and Spanish (below).

It’s a pleasing surprise for me to receive this disc, since the line-up of this album is conformed nothing less than by the Gutierrez bros (Kevin and Tim), soldiers of the legendary cult band Wreckage, that soon would pass to be called Temple of Faith. I used to have contact with Kevin in the 80’s, indeed Wreckage appeared in Deaththrasher # 1, and if that wasn’t enough, the line-up of this trio is completed by the Voivod former vocalist and current E-Force frontman Eric Forrest. The presentation is in flames, the quality of printing and photography is highly professional. What about influences? Man! The list is endless… here you will perceive varied influences from dirty Punk, passing through Thrash and Death Metal to the most atmospheric, industrial and ethereal Metal you could imagine. This is just a schizophrenic symphony.

“Final Act Of Treachery” is first, deathlike, dirty, good shouts, varied and dark, very good structure…well, with such line – up, we couldn’t have waited for less. Soon “Through The Broken Lens” comes, it’s a very mysterious track, with very good changes, it quickly passes from love to hatred, drums show off tempos in a huge way. “Regenerate” emphasizes riffs that refer to old Thrasher spirit incarnates in the Gutiérrez, brothers, very well joined by Eric Forrest’s voice. “The Conjoined”, a tremendously dense track, will make you believe that you are live in the Muppets Show and, one second later, you will feel burning yourself to ashes in hell itself; “Motionless” mixes archaic elements and some modern ones, it’s kinda precise for good mosh.

“Unsight Unseen”, here they go! This is a very exasperating instrumental which generates a lot of anxiety, it’s suitable as introduction for “Eve Of Demise”, another calamitous song, I like the louder and quicker parts of the percussion, although there’s an endless stream of changes; in “Synesthesia” we have a morbid, limbless, crude song, with typical vocals of a worker that suddenly feels sick. “Second Impact Syndrome”, is a very very loud theme and therefore, one of my favorites, it’s a hit with a surprising vocal burst, ala Araya, but with the totally original voice of Eric Forrest. Then “Surface Noise” comes, song with resounding whines, certainly disturbing and with a highly noisy sound and melodies. The last one is “The Hand That You've Been Dealt”, melody and dirt go by the hand, with killer riffs and aggressive bursts of infernal grunts. For me without a doubt this is the most important thing of the album, pure adrenalin and destruction, shit, what a hit!! This is a rotting avalanche!!!

I am not going to recommend this disc to just Thrashers, Death Metallers, Punks, etc… this is a disc for any Underground soldier in body and soul, for open-minded war pigs and for the most deranged assholes that love music!!!

Es una grata sorpresa para mí recibir este disco, el line de este álbum está conformado nada menos que por los hermanos Gutierrez, Kevin y Tim, los otrora guerreros de la legendaria banda de culto Wreckage, que luego pasaría a llamarse Temple of Faith, yo tuve contacto con Kevin a fines de los 80’s, precisamente Wreckage apareció en la Deathtrasher # 1, por si fuera poco el line up de este trío lo completa el ex vocalista de Voivod y actual vocalista de E-Force Eric Forrest. La presentación del disco es buena, la calidad de impresión y fotografía es altamente profesional, acerca de las influencias, ufff! jamás terminaría… aquí realmente percibirás influencias muy variadas desde el sucio Punk, pasando por el Thrash y Death Metal hasta lo más atmosférico, industrial y etéreo que te puedas imaginar, simplemente una sinfonía esquizofrénica.

El primer tema es “Final Act Of Treachery”, estridente, sucio, buenos gritos, variados y oscuros, muy buena estructura, bueno, con ese line-up no podía esperar menos, luego viene “Through The Broken Lens”, una pista muy tétrica y misteriosa, con muy buenos cambios, pasa rápidamente del amor al odio, la batería marca los tempos de forma grandiosa, sigue “Regenerate”, destaco esos riffs que hacen prevalecer el viejo espíritu Thrashero que encarnan los hermanos Gutiérrez, muy bien empalmados por la voz de Eric Forrest, luego “The Conjoined”, una pista tremendamente densa, tan controvertida que por un momento creerás que estás en el Show de los Muppets y un segundo más tarde te sentirás calcinándote en el mismo infierno, “Motionless”, un tema con elementos arcaicos y otros modernos, una explosión de sensaciones y preciso para un buen mosh.

“Unsight Unseen”, vaya! este es un instrumental de lo más desesperante y genera sensaciones de ansiedad, le sirve de preámbulo a “Eve Of Demise”, otro tema calamitoso, me gustan bastante las partes arrasadoras y más veloces de la batería, aunque es un sinfín de cambios, en “Synesthesia”, tenemos un tema mórbido, espacial, crudo, con vocales propias de un obrero con nauseas, “Second Impact Sindrome”, este es uno de los temas más iracundos y por ende de mi predilección, un hit con una ráfaga vocal sorprendente, a lo Araya, pero con la voz totalmente original de Eric Forrest, viene “Surface Noise¨, un tema con chillidos estrepitosos, un sonido altamente ruidoso y melodías ciertamente perturbadoras, el último tema es “The Hand That You've Been Dealt¨, melodía y suciedad van de la mano, con riffs asesinos y ráfagas ametrallantes de gruñidos infernales, para mí sin duda este es el éxito del álbum, adrenalina pura y demencia de sobra, que tal hit mierda! esto si que es una avalancha de putrefacción!!!

Yo no voy a recomendar este disco a Thrashers, Death Metallers, Punks, etc… este es un disco apto para cualquier guerrero Underground de cuerpo y alma, para chanchos de guerra open mind y para los más desquiciados orates que amen la música!!!

Brutalism - July 2007

New album on a new label. I only have their album "A Beautiful Sickness" out of 2003 and remembered it as an album where they mix different styles and did a cover of Venoms "Warhead". On this album you get 11 tracks in a progressive mixture of thrash and industrial. Used violins before now you can hear a trumpet like in the title track. The vocals are sung with a raw and aggressive tone over changing tempos and different breaks. Guitars are heavy in the riff but I miss some good old fashioned leads. A diverse album for those who like progressive metal that dare to step out of the borders.

Deadtide.com - by Kyle Huckins. August 2007

E-Metal Reviews - by Rob Davis. Issue #15. August 2007

The best way to describe P:FF is extreme; intense, oppressive, and well… extreme music is in store for all those that dare listen. The music itself is hard to describe; cold, harsh, thrashy, industrial is the best way I can put it. In a way I could almost say if Voivod from the eighties tried playing Aborym's Kali-Yuga Bizarre with some slight math metal overtones. This is definitely for fans of cold harsh soundscapes of all varieties, because this band covers so many sounds. There are things within this band that fans of black, death, thrash, industrial, indeed all metal can appreciate. Versatile to say the least so enough with my nonsensical rambling, go check this shit out.  :)

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