Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Defleshed - Reclaim The Beat - 2005 - Candlelight Records

Track Listing1 - Stripped To The Bone 2 - Abstinence For Turbulence 3 - Chain Reaction 4 - Bulldozed 5 - Under Destruction 6 - Grind And Rewind 7 - Reclaim The Beat 8 - Red Hot 9 - May The Flesh Be With You 10 - Ignorance Is Bliss 11 - Aggroculture 12 - Over And Out

What do you say to this? How do you even attempt to describe this high speed devestation? Defleshed have returned in grand fashion, never straying from their sound through ten years but still managing to pull out some new material. This time around we get "Reclaim The Beat", the group's latest speed metal offering, put upon the golden plate of all things maxed out and completely over the top.

I'll be honest with you, I haven't heard this band since 1997's "Under The Blade". Now, after a six year absence from hearing the group, I now have in my dirty paws the newest record from these maniacal metal soldiers. From the looks of things I have somehow missed out on the '99 release "Death...The Hight Cost Of Living, the '02 record "Royal Straight Flesh", and the group's most recent, the 2003 release of "Fast Forward". During this time it looks like the band has never changed their style, a noble thing considering how many acts change depending on the current music climate. Defleshed are here and definitely back in business, offering up one of the fastest records I have ever heard.

"Reclaim The Beat" is just scorching, absorbing everything fast and loud in a wicked attempt to become the next Destruction. Is it working" At this point I would have to say so, both of those bands playing almost mindless thrash, with the speed element dominating the band's sound. This new album was produced by Daniel Bergstrand (In Flames, Meshuggah, Strapping Young Lad) and gets a fine sound, one that really allows the band to get a modern touch out of the most basic and elementary thrash sound. Folks, these guys are built on speed, at times moving at the speed of light, easily recognizable on the fast and furious opener "Stripped To The Bone" as well as the crunchy, quick number "Grind And Rewind". Each track is built on high speed success, with the band just moving through cut after cut of speed metal hell. Fans that haven't heard Defleshed I strongly recommend this band if you enjoy the likes of early Destruction, Kreator, Sodom, and Warhead (UK).




--EC 06.17.05