The years between 1991 and 1993 pushed limits of Death Metal to extremes in many senses. PESTILENCE’s “Testimony of the Ancients”, MORBID ANGEL’s “Blessed are the Sick” were proofs that the genre could have a high degree of instrumental technique without losing its brutality; “Covenant” (of MORBID ANGEL as well) and “Effigy of the Forgotten” of SUFFOCATION expanded the levels of musical brutality as well. So it’s an abstract of things (even not being totally fair) of pieces that opened new possibilities to Death Metal. And as a fruit of it here is “By Will Alone”, the second album of the North American one man band ALCHEMY OF FLESH.

The album follows a trend into North American Death Metal School of the 90s, that same one that that gives priority to brutality and a good technical level to the songs, but still being a traditional Death Metal release. One can check that it’s filled with very good instrumental arrangements to fill empty spaces, contrasting faster tempos with some slow parts. Ok, the formula isn’t new at all, but in the hands of Tim, things gain a new and different shine, bleeding in aggressiveness and energy, but with some technical parts that are amazing (take a hearing to the unusual tempos and technical riffing used on “Earth Dragon Totality” to check it). Yes, it’s a very good release, indeed.

Tim himself produced, recorded and mixed the songs of “By Will Alone”, leaving the mastering to the hands of J.B. van der Wal. As expected, the view is for something brutal and defined in a way that all musical expressions used on the songs can be fully understood. But be prepared, for it’s really brutal. And the artwork of Mario López seems unexpected for such kind of music, but’s very good, indeed.

The songs of “By Will Alone” are all able to turn ears to shred of flesh easily, and this is very good for a band of such genre. But the right ones for a first experience on the album are “Meteor Hammer” (a fast, technical and grotesque Death Metal song, with charming technical appeal on bass guitar and drums, but always with many extreme hooks), “The Godhead of Self” (another set of fast tempos can be heard, with some contrasts with Thrash Metal influences, with thunderous guitar riffs), “Earth Dragon Totality” (as said above, some unusual set of tempos is heard, but always allowing the brutality levels to explode the VU meters, with snarling grunts being presented), “Labyrinthine Fortress” (where speed decreases a little, but without losing its brutal insight), and “Immuration” will do the presentations.

Of course, ALCHEMY OF FLESH depicts a band with potential to be great in the future. But for now, “By Will Alone” sounds great for addicted Death Metal fans.