{"id":13013,"date":"2024-12-02T20:39:53","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T01:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/?p=13013"},"modified":"2024-12-02T20:39:54","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T01:39:54","slug":"review-taking-the-head-of-goliath-futility-of-the-flesh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/02\/review-taking-the-head-of-goliath-futility-of-the-flesh\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Taking the Head of Goliath – Futility of the Flesh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Reviewed by Seth Metoyer<\/a>, Heaven’s Metal Magazine

In the relentless world of brutal death metal, few bands have left as indelible a mark as Minnesota’s own Taking the Head of Goliath<\/strong>. Their swan song, the EP Futility of the Flesh<\/em>, released posthumously on October 25, 2024, via Rottweiler Records<\/a>, stands as a testament to their unyielding ferocity and technical prowess. The EP was recorded by Will Maravelas (Thor, Incinerate) and mixed and mastered by Charles Powell (Carnifex), ensuring a sonic onslaught that does justice to the band’s vision. The cover art, crafted by P\u00e4r Olofsson (Children of Bodom, Exodus), visually encapsulates the EP’s brutal essence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having previously given their self-titled release a cursory listen without it making a lasting impression, I mean, it was decent, it just never ended up in my regular rotation. I approached Futility of the Flesh<\/em> with tempered expectations. However, the opening title track immediately shattered any reservations. Kicking off with a monstrous riff reminiscent of Gojira, it plunges into a churning death metal groove, punctuated by guttural growls that evoke the genre’s early titans. This track alone defines the band’s legacy in my eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Septic Enslavement,” the EP’s other unreleased offering, delivers a groove-laden assault that’s irresistibly mosh-inducing\u2014though at 51, my pit days might be behind me. A standout moment arrives around the 1:15 mark with a bass passage that channels the spirit of Mortification, adding a nostalgic yet fresh layer to the composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EP also features a live rendition of “Neoteric Tribal Barbarism,” recorded at Rayfest in 2021, and it\u2019s an absolute highlight. The track exudes a beefy, tight, and heavy energy that\u2019s often elusive in live recordings. The band was in their element on stage, delivering a performance brimming with precision and raw intensity. Listening to it makes me wish I had experienced them live setting. This track stands as a powerful testament to their ability to dominate not just in the studio but also in the live arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing the collection is the 2015 version of “Cord of Three Strands,” offering a glimpse into the band’s earlier sound. While it rounds out the EP, albeit not as strong as the other songs on this EP, it serves as a stark reminder of what fans are losing with their disbandment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s bittersweet to bid farewell to Taking the Head of Goliath<\/strong>, this EP serves as a formidable final chapter, leaving both longtime fans and newfound listeners yearning for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rating: 4.1\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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