Metalcatto
Cutterred Flesh has a sort of special place at MER, because it might have been like the third review I wrote. Hence, I’m happy that the band and us are still here to talk smack about each other. If you know anything about these guys, you’ll know your ears are about to get smashed into pieces. The real question is if The Shapes of Hidden Malice is going to be more of the same, or if we’re going to get some sort of change. Historically, brutal bands tend to stay the same, but one can be wrong, right?
Well, The Shapes of Hidden Malice is strange in a way. You’re going to get all the madness and violence you crave, but there’s also some nuance here. As in, the album is more Proggy. The first half especially shows a band willing to try new and more complex ideas. The breakdowns, the blasting—sure, it’s all inhumane—but the shredding is there too, not just as mindless soloing but as songwriting sequences that actually go somewhere. The transitions are smoother than you’d expect from a band this heavy, and the dynamics shift enough to keep you on your toes.
The question I keep asking myself is if this thing is substantially different from Cutterred Flesh‘s previous work. The answer is kind of complex. At times, yes, things have changed. But mostly in the later parts, the band is back to that hack-and-slash approach, without much subtlety. The album has some seconds to breathe, but overall, you’re just getting mauled by this alien creature. Mercy isn’t a word in its primal language. The aggression is relentless, and the production is raw enough to make every hit feel real.
Now, I definitely liked the first half of the album more than the second. It was just more unexpected. As the album moves forward, the music becomes more standard, less mixed up, and more about hitting you with a hammer. It’s not bad per se, but you won’t be shocked if you’re a regular when it comes to Tech Death or Brutal Death. You’re right in your element, even if at times you might get rather numb. The familiarity is both a comfort and a limitation.
Fans of Cutterred Flesh will be delighted by this ridiculous amount of heaviness. You might even be surprised. But those of us who live in the swamp might recognize the craft yet expect more change in the next album.
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Release date: August 28th, 2026
Website: https://black-door.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-shadows-of-a-funerary-gleam
Country: Netherlands
Score: 3.0/5.0
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