PeelingFlesh - The G Code (Album Review)
PeelingFlesh – The G Code
Released: September 6th, 2024
Line Up:
Mychal Soto // Guitars
Damonteal Harris // Vocals
Joe Pelletier // Drums
Austin Hirom // Bass
Jason Parrish // Guitars
Online:
The self-dubbed purveyors of Slamming Gangster Groove, Oklahoma five-piece PeelingFlesh have made the strange bedfellows of hip-hop and slamming death metal seem like long-lost cousins. Hot commodities in the underground extreme scene, their great work ethic and unique take on the well-worn genre have won PeelingFlesh fans from across the deathcore, slam, and hardcore communities. Much like a modern hip-hop performer, PeelingFlesh has also been ridiculously prolific over their short three-year existence, dropping no less than four EPs, as well as a bunch of splits and standalone singles – you could be forgiven being surprised to hear that The G Code is their debut full length.
Wrapped in artwork that looks like a long lost late 90s Southern hip-hop release, the aptly titled ‘Intro’ is a mood-setter and a half for The G Code; the ferocious grooves and chugging, inhuman vocals and news report/hip hop samples are the perfect taster for the album to come. The excellent ‘Shoot 2 Kill’ opens the record proper, with the infamous George Bush “watch this drive” quote on top of the pre-beatdown build-up absolutely ludicrous – the cut is bound to find a permanent spot in the PeelingFlesh live show. The G Code does have a mixtape feel; the young group seemingly going out of their way to push out all the extreme elements of their sound. ‘Perc 3000’ features DJ scratching and some of PeelingFlesh’s most pure death metal riffage, while the hardcore-leaning ‘Concrete Curb’ is a 90-second explosion.
Mychal Soto – formerly of the ultra-violent act Strangled – handles all production duties, with The G Code sounding both beefy and raw, with buckets of low-end. Drummer Joe Pelletier has plenty of ‘ping’ in his snare, with the hotly tipped player boasting all the speed in his hands and feet, but still able to dial in an absolutely monster groove. The sequencing in the album seems designed for maximum impact – often jumping from one extreme element to the next; just check out the differences in the two mid-record interludes. ‘FULL OF LEAD’ is a beat-driven instrumental, while ‘SKIN BLUNT‘ is a sample-filled riff fest, boasting some of the LPs best and most metal guitar and drum work. Alex Erian and Steve Marios from deathcore OGs’ Despised Icon feature on the fantastic title track. Their appearance on ‘The G Code’ is certainly not lost – anyone familiar with the long-running Montreal group will be well aware of the subtle hip-hop edge to their style visually.
The G Code is a wholly satisfying debut release from PeelingFlesh, seeing the slam crew stretch out sonically and crank all of their unique elements, and will no doubt it will keep PeelingFlesh’s momentum moving well into 2025. Critics of genre-bending acts of the past often describe them as being unfocused and sacrificing quality for experimentation – and there’s no doubt that for some listeners will find PeelingFlesh’s mashing of different elements will be too contrasting. However, though the Oklahomans have not seen many trips around the sun, The G Code sees the band (perhaps) master their own niche – and breathe some fresh air into a very guarded genre.
PeelingFlesh – The G Code tracklisting
- Intro
- Shoot 2 Kill
- Perc 3000 feat. DJ MRD
- Concrete Curb Enforcement feat. Tim Louth (Cold Hard Truth)
- FULL OF LEAD Interlude feat. DJ MRD
- SKIN BLUNT Interlude Pt 2
- Barbarianism
- The Fuckening feat. Andrew LoMastro (Cerebral Incubation)
- The G Code feat. Alex Erian and Steve Marios (Despised Icon)
- Creepin’ Out the Cut
- Outro
Rating: 8/10
The G Code is out September 6th on Unique Leader Records. Order here
Review By – Andrew Kapper. Twitter: @andrew_kapper
