heavy-metal-darkness: Fleshvessel |Obstinacy: Sisyphean Dreams Unfolded |I, Voidhanger Records

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Fleshvessel |Obstinacy: Sisyphean Dreams Unfolded |I, Voidhanger Records

Release Date December 12^nd, 2025
Format LP/CD/Digital
Genre Progressive/Death Metal, Avant-garde Metal
Country USA

Fleshvessel is an experimental metal collective hailing from Chicago, Illinois. They made waves in the underground scene with their 2023 debut, "Yearning: Promethean Fates Sealed", introducing a bizarre fusion of extreme metal and obscure instrumentation. The band returns with their sophomore effort, "Obstinacy: Sisyphean Dreams Unfolded", released through the always eccentric I, Voidhanger Records. The lineup features Alexander Torres handling a massive array of instruments alongside Sakda Srikoetkhruen, Troll Hart, Gwyn Hoetzer, and Colin MacAndrew.

The sheer amount of madness packed into these four tracks is hard to process at first. Fleshvessel takes the framework of death metal and mangles it with jazz, black metal, and progressive rock until it looks like something completely different. The music shifts constantly, jerking the listener around with sudden tempo changes and weird harmonic choices. It is technical and demanding, refusing to offer any easy hooks or simple grooves. The band seems dead set on disorienting anyone who listens, creating a sound that is as fascinating as it is confusing.

What makes this album really strange is the gear they use. You expect guitars and drums, but then they throw in flutes, clarinets, a viola, and even a saw or metal spatula. These aren't just background textures; they are right up front, fighting for space with the distortion. The mix of acoustic folk instruments with heavy amplification creates a jarring contrast. One minute it sounds like a chamber orchestra, and the next it descends into total metallic chaos. It gives the album a distinct flavor that you won't find in a standard death metal release.

The vocals match the insanity of the music. The performance swings wildly between deep, guttural roars and high-pitched screams that border on hysteria. With songs running between nine and sixteen minutes, there is a lot of ground to cover. The band crams a thousand ideas into every minute, making the album feel dense. It requires a lot of patience to get through the longer sections, as the constant shifting prevents you from settling into a rhythm. It is an exhausting listen, but the technical skill on display is undeniable.

The concept here revolves the myth of Sisyphus, and the music reflects that endless struggle. It is a stubborn, difficult record that refuses to compromise. While the constant barrage of noise and changes might be too much for some, fans of the weird and avant-garde will dig into the complexity. It is a worthy follow-up to their debut, offering a challenging experience for anyone looking for something far outside the norm.

Score: 7.5