FLESHBORE is a technical death metal band from Indianapolis, Indiana who formed in 2017. Their latest album, “Painted Paradise,” is their second full-length album; they have also released a demo and an EP. “Painted Paradise,” is an album that immediately grabbed me! It is far more memorable than a lot of technical death metal. It’s also willing to embrace a more melodic side of the genre, something that works well because it make s the songs more vibrant and emotional, rather than coming off cold and aloof. It still doesn’t lose sight of the tight musicianship and frantic tempos the genre is known for but overall I just found this to be a much more flavorful version of tech death that I have found captivating and refreshing.

The album opens with “Setting Sun,” and it smacks me right in the face with its aggressive guitar tone. The guitars have a real weight to them, each moment containing a lot of depth. The bass is great, coming out from behind the guitars at just the right moments to highlight the passages without trying to steal the show. It’s a race to the finish line but all the instruments are on the same team. Around the halfway point, the tempo pulls back and the melody I spoke of earlier gets a chance to shine through. It sounds very natural, birthing out of the prior technical flourishes with ease. It’s really impressive how the band weaves in and out of its structures—a sign of care put into their craftsmanship.

“Target Fixation,” opens with blistering death growls—Michael is a beast! He rips through the music with a brutality that is convincing but the cadence and rhythm in which he gurgles out the lyrics is catchy especially when the music grabs hold of his nuances. The song consistently ramps up the tempo and aggression, feeling like the endgame is ever approaching. The scorching double bass keeps it grounded in a rare ferocity’. The ending riffs from the last twenty seconds or so are absolutely CRUSHING! “The Ancient Knowledge,” is like the feeding frenzy of sharks in a pool of blood. The song fully embraces the talent of each member and sets off like an explosion with its own explosions. The guitars and bass twist and reform their way into new pathways while the drums keep it all together so that it doesn’t sound loose, but super dense. The solo is amazing, highlighting the best aspects of the song while opening it up for an aggressive passage that breaks down every barrier.

“Laplace’s Game,” is dizzying, a tornado of riffs. These high winds bring with them a biting vocal performance that gives way to an impressive bass performance and spacey melodies. It slides right back into tech carnage without missing a beat. The final minute or so of the song is so intense as it crests over its crescendo that it feels like the culmination of the album as a whole.

FLESHBORE’s “Painted Paradise,” is the direction that tech death needs to go in. The music is as potent and enthralling as the beautiful cover art.