Fleshkiller is a

progressive metal Progressive metal (often shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal music, heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified electric guitar, guitar-driven sound of the former with t ...

band from Norway, founded in 2015 by

Ole Børud Ole Arnold Børud (born 6 December 1976) is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and audio engineer. He is known both for his solo recordings and as a member of the groups Arnold B. Family, Schaliach, Extol, and Fle ...

and Peter Dalbakk.

History

Fleshkiller started in 2015 in Norway as a side project of

of the

progressive death metal Progressive metal (often shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal music, heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified electric guitar, guitar-driven sound of the former with t ...

band

Extol Extol is an extreme metal band from Bekkestua, Norway, that was formed in 1993. The band is known for playing a variety of different styles of heavy metal music, metal which include progressive metal, Christian death metal, black metal and thra ...

and Peter Dalbakk of the band Vardøger. Børud and Dalbakk were former bandmates of the band

Schaliach Schaliach was a Christian metal band formed by Peter Dalbakk and Ole Børud from Hamar, Norway. Dalbakk served as the band's vocalist, while Børud handled all the instrumentation. In 1995, the duo released a 3-song demo. The following year, they ...

, a

death-doom Death-doom (also known as death-doom metal or doom-death) is a fusion genre of death metal and doom metal. It combines the slow tempos and pessimistic or depressive mood of doom metal with the deep death growl, growling vocals and double bass dr ...

band they formed together. The two hired drummer Andreas Skorpe Sjøen from the band Umpfel, and Ole Vistnes, of the bands Shining and Tristania, as the band's bass player. Dalbakk later quit the band, wanting to spend more time with his family. The band replaced him with Elisha Mullins, vocalist of The Burial and former guitarist of A Hill to Die Upon. Børud had come in contact with Mullins through both of their time on the Facedown Records roster. The band later signed to Indie Recordings in Europe and

Facedown Records Facedown Records is a Christian rock record label based in Fallbrook, California, that is devoted to hardcore punk and metalcore bands (Christian and secular) with a few death metal acts such as Immortal Souls and Indwelling. Founded by No ...

in North America to release their debut album ''Awaken''. On June 30, 2017, the band released their debut single, "Parallel Kingdom". The band released their second single "Warfare" on August 18, 2017, via a music video. On September 1, 2017, the band released "Salt of the Earth", their third and final single before the album released on September 15. The album came out on September 15, 2017, which received positive critical reception.

Musical style and influences

Much like

, Fleshkiller draws influences from several different bands, including

Death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...

Steely Dan Steely Dan is an American rock band formed in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in 1971 by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals). Originally having a traditional band lineup, Becker and Fagen cho ...

Yes Yes or YES may refer to: * An affirmative particle in the English language; see yes and no Education * YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, Texas, US * Young Eisner Scholars, in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Appalachia, US * Young Ep ...

, and

Necrophagist Necrophagist ( ) was a German technical death metal band founded and fronted by guitarist and vocalist Muhammed Suiçmez. The band used baroque music-influenced compositions paired with extreme metal drumming. The name originates from the Gre ...

. The band remains close lyrically to what Extol had promoted through the

Christian metal Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal, or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian-themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band-members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by ...

genre. The band has been compared to

Devin Townsend Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian singer, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He founded extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad and was its primary songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist from 1994 to 2007. He has also ...

, Textures,

Animals As Leaders Animals as Leaders is an American instrumental progressive metal band from Washington D.C. Since 2012, the band has consisted of Tosin Abasi (lead guitar), Javier Reyes (rhythm guitar), and Matt Garstka (drums), having originated in 2007 as a ...

, and " Yes meets

My Chemical Romance My Chemical Romance is an American Rock music, rock band from New Jersey. The band's current lineup consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, lead guitarist Ray Toro, rhythm guitarist Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way. They are considered one of ...

meets

Napalm Death Napalm Death are an English grindcore band formed in Meriden, West Midlands, in 1981. None of the band's original members have been in the group since 1986, but since ''Utopia Banished'' (1992), the lineup of bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mi ...

." The genre of the band is described as

and progressive and technical death metal, incorporating elements of

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with tr ...

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an Extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, ...

death metal Death metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep death growl, growling vocals; aggressive ...

, Gothenburg metal, and

metalcore Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...

Members

Current members *

– guitars, vocals (2015–present) (

, Arnold B. Family, Selfmindead) *Elisha Mullins – guitars, vocals (2017–present) ( Miss May I, The Burial, ex- A Hill to Die Upon,

War of Ages War of Ages (sometimes abbreviated WoA; formerly known as Point Zero) is an American Christian metal band formed in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 2002. The group consists of vocalist Leroy Hamp, lead guitarist Steve Brown, rhythm guitarist Jack Danie ...

, ex-Maugrim) *Ole Vistnes – bass (2016–present) ( Shining, Tristania, Extol) *Andreas Skorpe Sjøen – drums (2016–present) (Umpfel) Former members *Peter Dalbakk – vocals (2015–2017) (Schaliach, Vardøger)

Discography

Studio albums * ''Awaken'' (

/Indie Recordings; September 15, 2017) Singles * "Parallel Kingdom" (June 30, 2017) * "Warfare" (August 18, 2017) * "Salt of the Earth" (September 1, 2017)

References

{{Reflist Musical groups established in 2015 Facedown Records artists Extreme metal musical groups Christian extreme metal groups Norwegian Christian metal musical groups Norwegian progressive metal musical groups