Rating: 7/10

Opera by Fleshgod Apocalypse masterfully blends symphonic grandeur with death metal ferocity, but leans too heavily on familiar territory without breaking new ground.

Opera, Fleshgod Apocalypse’s latest effort, delivers exactly what fans of their symphonic death metal sound would expect: a grand fusion of orchestral elegance and crushing brutality. The opening track, “Ode To Art – De’ Sepolcri,” sets the stage with a captivating, operatic intro before launching into their signature heaviness. Veronica Bordacchini’s clean vocals are a standout, balancing the intense growls with a haunting, melodic grace.

Lyrically, Opera dives into darker themes, with tracks like “Bloodclock” pulling you into a whirlwind of heavy riffs and grandeur. Despite the album’s strong moments, it feels like more of the same. The band leans even further into their symphonic elements, but there’s a sense of familiarity that prevents Opera from standing out as truly innovative compared to their previous releases.

While the instrumental performances are strong, particularly the guitars and drums, the absence of founding bassist Paolo Rossi leaves a subtle gap, with Francesco Paoli now taking over bass duties. The bass could have used more punch to match the intensity of the rest of the album, but that’s a minor quip. If any 😛

Overall, Opera is a solid album that will resonate with fans, though it leaves you wanting Fleshgod Apocalypse to venture deeper into new territories. A pure death metal or slam metal album from them would be an exciting shift. Still, for symphonic metal lovers, Opera delivers plenty of power and finesse, even if it doesn’t completely break new ground.

Essential Metal Merch

Opera – Red Marble LP

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