“Reduced To Ashes” is the sixth release of the Californian hate mongers Deeds Of Flesh. I’m not familiar with their former work but this is yet another band I wish I’d known earlier because this is in my eyes easily the best brutal death metal album of this year. Unique Leader has made a name for themselves by releasing quality death metal and I really liked the recent releases of Spawn Of Possession and Severed Savior but compared to Deeds Of Flesh they are both reduced to ashes (gheghe).

“Reduced To Ashes” offers 8 tracks of blistering death metal, lightning fast at times, but is also filled with groovy parts, which gives this album an unbelievable vibe. It is clear that Deeds Of Flesh consists of very skilled musicians and songwriters, who are not only interested in playing faster than anybody else, but are also trying to create good songs.

After hearing them a few times they are already in your head, and stay there. The vocals of both Erik and Jacoby are very strong and the drumming of Mike (also playing in Vile) is simply amazing. This album is one you will keep on listening and listening.

It’s not the most powerful production I’ve ever heard but all the instrument are clearly audible and this is certainly a necessity because at 3 tempo changes per second a clean production keeps this album from becoming a blurry mess. Too bad the planned tour with Hate Eternal has been cancelled a few days ago so the first opportunity to see them play live in Europe will be in January 2004 and that’s too damn far away.

Quite simply put, Unique Leader released once again a landmark death metal album.