Whoever told you that the only genres Finland can produce are Black, Gothic and Power Metal is totally wrong! SCENT OF FLESH is the living proof that except from sorrow, pain and loneliness, violence and hatred are ingredients that exist in the ice-cold country. The only thing that is left is to see if those ingredients can also make an interesting recipe or just create a tasteless Death Metal album.

The Finnish deathsters were formed in 2000 and even though I don't think that they are a well-known band, I have a feeling that I know this band from somewhere. Anyway, after two demos in 2001, the band managed to sign a contract with the Greek label Black Lotus Records (this is where I knew the band from!). After one album, the band changed label and signed with Firebox Records. Under their new label, the Finnish death metallers released a full-length album and one EP. This is their second album through Firebox and their third in general.

I have come across many good Death Metal bands from Finland like TOTAL DEVASTATION, AMORAL and DEATHCHAIN (ok, these guys are Death/Thrash). SCENT OF FLESH are not so thrashy as DEATHCHAIN, nor so melodic as AMORAL, but they are catchy and brutal like TOTAL DEVASTATION. Ok, a bit more brutal than TOTAL DEVASTATION. I would say that their music is closer to bands like DEICIDE and SUFFOCATION, American Death Metal in general. The well-known American stuff like heavy and furious riffing, extreme drumming and growling vocals are all here. The sound is not the one I expected to come across, especially if you think that we are talking about a 2007 album and the band's third one. It is much rawer and not as clear as it should be (in my humble opinion). Anyway, the ideas are definitely not something groundbreaking or new, but they create a pretty nice Death Metal album that can stand proudly amongst many Death Metal releases. To tell you the truth, it is better than much crap I have come across.

If you have listened to many Death Metal stuff and you are an experienced listener you will probably want something more than that, but this album can be a nice addition to your collection. You choose...