If you're reading this and are a metal fan worth a grain of salt, chances are you've heard "A Beautiful Sickness" from Virginian experimental thrashers PROJECT: FAILING FLESH and absolutely loved it. "But so what," you're saying, "that was four long years ago. What's next?" Glad you asked! After what's seemed like an eternity, we finally have its follow-up, "The Conjoined", in our grubby mitts, and we're glad to report that the news is all good here. The uniqueness of the band has not worn thin one bit, and they sound every bit as fresh and exciting as they did the first time around. This was four years well spent.

But for those out there who've been caught unawares (and shame on you!), P: FF has been an ongoing… um… project for multi-instrumentalists Tim Gutierrez and Kevin 131 for some time now. However, it wasn't until the addition of ex-VOIVOD and current E-FORCE vocalist Eric Forrest that things really took off for these guys. Musically, there is no possible way that P: FF can be mistaken for any other band. But while there are plenty of unorthodox instruments and samples used here, the main emphasis is making seriously heavy thrash fucking metal. Both the new-school blast beats of "Eye of Demise" and the old-school thrash assault of "Final Act of Treachery" are enough to send any extreme metal fan into a moshing frenzy. Forrest's vocals are the perfect complement to the zaniness and heaviness of Gutierrez and 131, employing a husky growl almost identical to how Snake sounded on the first few VOIVOD albums. Actually, more than once VOIVOD comes to mind during this album: the title track's intro is quite reminiscent of "Tribal Convictions"… then of course the trumpet kicks in and all convention gets tossed out the window. Fans of "A Beautiful Sickness" get the idea - as we all know, there are two kinds of experimentation: the pompous and/or drugged out kind used to alienate listeners, and the kind that shows significant strides in originality and is used to reward listeners. This is most definitely the latter. It's the little touches like the "Addams Family" sounding organ in "The Hand That You've Been Dealt" or the techno drum & bass intro of "Regenerate" that shows just how much effort these guys put into this album, and with repeated listens comes new discoveries. Of course, these are just a few of the experimental quirks to be found in "The Conjoined" - we won't spoil the whole thing for you.

Truth be told, it hasn't been since the Swiss one-two punch of CELTIC FROST and CORONER that such an exhilarating musical achievement has been made in the thrash metal genre. Now all that's left is to see whether or not the metal community has enough brains to recognize a modern classic when they see one. Granted, there's still going to be assholes out there such as the death metal purists or dinosaur elitists who throw a bloody fit every time their boat is rocked who aren't going to give this album a chance (or, at the very least, won't do so until a decade or two from now). You know what? Fuck them! Stagnation is the most deadly threat to metal, and an album like "The Conjoined" is a breath of fresh air that's helping to keep the scene alive right now. End of review - submit to the pleasures of the FLESH already!

- Cardona

OFFICIAL SITE: www.projectfailingflesh.com

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Eye of Demise

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