These guys aren’t happy. I mean, you’d think a band would dispel all their aggression after nearly fifteen years in the metal business, but Defleshed are still going strong as evidenced by their latest album entitled “Reclaim the Beat.” This Swedish, death/thrash hybrid presents the listener with thirteen tracks of harnessed brutality, and their effort is going to be liked, despite not bursting with maudlin of the Well-esque originality.

“Stripped to the Bone” – an opener that begins with a fade-in – is glorious because it encapsulates all the worthwhile qualities that Defleshed possess. Just like Uncle Buck (John Candy) in “Uncle Buck,” the band isn’t here so much to gut you, as they are to skin a little off the kneecap. In other words, the group’s brutality is far from overwhelming, but it still manages to be potent and engaging. “Abstinence for Turbulence” is perhaps similar to Nightrage on steroids with better riffage. The latter could quite be the greatest thing about “Reclaim the Beat”; oftentimes, the riffs hit hard and leave lasting impressions. I found myself enjoying the goofy soundclip, about murder, at the beginning of “Chain Reaction.” But, by this point, the band’s penchant for toiling away at the same tempo conjures mild alarm. “Bulldozed (Back to Basic)” isn’t too different from songs past, and Modin’s (drums) credibility – if it hasn’t been solidified yet – should sink in relatively soon. Again, “Under Destruction” fails to eschew formulas seemingly set in stone.

Similarly, “Grind and Rewind” commences with little to no surprise. I began to tire at this juncture, cause I pretty much assumed that Defleshed weren’t going to change much from here on out. “Reclaim the Beat,” “Red Hot,” and “May the Flesh be with You” play identical twins to compositions previously heard. Thankfully, however, the trio wisely chose to limit song lengths to (barely over) three minutes or less. The trend doesn’t break with the advent of “Ignorance is Bliss,” “Aggroculture,” or “Over and Out,” which is the closer on “Reclaim the Beat.”

Those with an open mind won’t have any problems warming up to Defleshed. I found myself genuinely enjoying them. But, their glaring fuck-ups (i.e. same tempo throughout, lack of innovation, among others) will most assuredly turn off fans lacking generous attention spans. It’s good in short stints, though.

[This review was first published on the now defunct scandinavianmetal.info webzine]