Not without a mite of sorrow, this album marks the end of an era for me. An extensive span of waiting with bated breath everytime I read production notes regarding new material from these violently motivated Swedes. "Reclaim the Beat" is Defleshed's final album, announced officially on the band's website by Gustaf Jorde (bassist/vocalist). And a damned fine one at that. Allow me to explain... There is a time for experimentation, a time to stretch respective genre barriers, an appropriate hour to stray as far away from the influences that inspired you to pick up a guitar and gather your equally enthusiastic friends in a freezing garage in the first place. Simultaneously, there also exists a time to completely embrace everything you love about those influences, not to plagiarize, but to make it your own and play it to full of your ability. This is what Defleshed have always done. I've honestly seen them as the front-runners of the death/thrash hybrid scene since the release of "Under the Blade" on Metal Blade in 1997. This is how thrash metal should sound now, this is thrash metal evolved to a level of intensity that once was thought to be impossible. "Stripped to the Bone" is an opener constructed to level forests, New Orleans, or whatever else lies in its direct path. From that point on, this sonic assault never lets up a single notch, actually indulging even further into its intelligently built chaotic mesh of malevolence that even a seasoned, jaded metalhead will have trouble to avoid falling prey to random bursts of spasmodic head-banging and fist throttling (don't look too deep into that comment, you vile perverts). The Motley Crue cover absolutely destroys the original, and pummels that hilarious Oppressor take on Crue's "Looks That Kill" released some years ago (remember that?).

Before I conclude this, a quick run-down. Drummer Matte Modin is in top form here, a whirlwind of driving energy, "Aggroculture" sees the man reaching speeds previously unknown in the audacious arena of blast beats. Lars Lofven is king of intricate thrash metal riffing, no specific example required aside from the entire disc. So this is it for Defleshed, and it pains me to say it. At least they ended a great storied career with a top-shelf album like this. The website refers to a US tour which will hopefully not fall through, it'd be an honor to see this action in the..flesh (cough..cough, apologize for that). About time to wrap this up, so I'll sign the epitaph with some of Jorde's philosophical lyrical prose:

"May the flesh be with you, see through, there is no god - make no mistake. May the flesh be with you, so review - there is no fate but what we make".

...Over and out.

written by Severe Repugnance

Playing time: 35.55