Fleshgod Apocalypse @ la Machine du Moulin Rouge, Paris - January 8th, 2025

Opening for Dark Funeral, Fleshgod Apocalypse set the stage ablaze with their signature blend of brutality, theatricality, and technical precision. Armed with their revamped lineup—Francesco Paoli (vocals, bass), Francesco Ferrini (piano, orchestration), Veronica Bordacchini (soprano vocals), Fabio Bartoletti (lead guitar), and Eugene Ryabchenko (drums)—the Italian symphonic death metal masters showcased why they remain a dominant force in the genre.

Drawing heavily from their latest opus, 2024’s Opera, Fleshgod Apocalypse delivered a performance that was both cinematic and savage. The interplay of Paoli’s guttural roars with Bordacchini’s operatic vocals created a hauntingly beautiful contrast, while Ferrini’s orchestral arrangements—performed on a grand piano stationed stage left—added a grandiose layer to the chaos. Bartoletti’s intricate shredding and Ryabchenko’s precise, punishing drumming provided the technical backbone to their symphonic onslaught.

Fleshgod Apocalypse’s history of combining classical influences with extreme metal has set them apart since their formation in 2007. Tracks from Opera showcased their evolution, blending sweeping symphonies with blistering death metal to create a sound that is both majestic and merciless. From blistering riffs to bone-crushing rhythms, their set was a visceral display of musical mastery that left the audience enthralled. Fleshgod Apocalypse proved themselves the perfect complement to Dark Funeral’s unrelenting darkness, setting a high bar for the evening’s descent into metal mayhem.

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