The Holy Flesh - Advocate, Martyr and Redeemer

The Holy Flesh is an atmospheric black metal band from the UK, who formed in 2019.  Their latest album, “Advocate, Martyr and Redeemer,” is their third full-length album; they have also released an EP.  It’s actually a one man project, from the musician known as Entity. 

Over the years, this project has become one of the most interesting in the blackened scene.  The prior albums were an example of how a band can be extreme without actually being extreme.  Their music is very dark, raw, and occult but with “Advocate, Martyr and Redeemer,” the mysterious Entity has upped his game and released The Holy Flesh’s best album yet.  

Their previous album, “Herald and Adversary” showed signs of adding a bit more detail to their decidedly stripped down approach of their debut, “Emissary and Vessel.”  It was a little more dense, a little more heavy, and progressed just enough to progress the sound from the first album without being too far removed.

The Holy Flesh’s mindset is one that truly embraces building on what came before.  “Advocate, Martyr, and Redeemer,” takes the sound from the prior release and builds on it just as that album built up from its own predecessor .  It’s a masterclass display of songwriting composition and bringing one’s ideas to fruition. 

Although definitely not as violent or aggressive as *insert random black metal band here*, this 6 song, 50 minute long album is heavier and more intense than anything they have done before.  Taking this path doesn’t distract from their raw, occult feel—actually, it makes it even better.  Now there is a slight urgency to the music that makes it all the more dangerous and gripping.  

But darkness and grime aren’t the only elements brought forth this time around; there is more melody and atmosphere than ever before.  It works extremely well and, honestly, makes the songs more haunting than ever. 

The production and mix have an upgrade too.  Though not pristine by any definition, the foggy overcast of their previous album has been lifted to allow every detail standout.  The bass in particular makes a case for why I think this is their best sounding album yet but in a way that does nothing to distract from their sound and purpose. 

The opening song, “Advocate I” presents this new path with a faster past tempo but still includes the dirty, raw mysticism that makes the music so appealing in the first place.  As the song moves forward, it adds layers with melodic riffs.  The song isn’t complicated by any means but it has many dynamics and dimensions to it.  I would say that’s a great way to describe the album as a whole too.  Clean tones and bass intertwined after the halfway mark, building a tapestry to a tapestry of riffs and a catchy rhythm.   This song, and all the others, always has a purpose leading it its destination. 

“Martyr II” tries its hand at groove—and succeeds.  As the groove winds down, layers of guitars offer the perfect setting for the low growled vocals to enter—subtle but venomous.  Parts of the song are surprisingly energetic, especially in relation to how the drums and melodic passage play off each other.    The later half of the song gets a kick up in tempo when the drums double down on this more aggressive route, grabbing hold of the music and pushing it forward.  

The final song, “Redeemer II,” is one of the longest songs on the album at nearly 10 minutes.  This one is perhaps my favorite on the album because I feel it captures not only everything Entity is doing on the album but also The Holy Flesh as a whole.  When listening to this song, I can feel on an emotional level everything the band has done and what it has been leading up to.  

With “Advocate, Martyr, and Redeemer,” Entity has found a way to once again progress The Holy Flesh’s sound to the next level while hanging on the roots and elements that made it so captivating to begin with.