The traditional Swedish Death Metal sound and attitude is of course dominant on this recording, but THE PETE FLESH DEATHTRIP brings a lot more to the table, both sonically and aesthetically.

Doomy parts fit the lyrical themes of introvert darkness and despair perfectly, and the furious, fast parts lend from Black Metal territories. All these elements are woven together with interesting song writing and a rare sense of melancholic melody that never gets predictable or stale.

The material on “Svartnad” was composed and written during 2014–2015 by Pete Flesh, who also handles all lead vocals and all guitars and bass. The drums and backing vocals were skillfully handled by Henrik Borg (100 Years, Satureye).

Release date: May 16:th 2016. Vinyl released in July.
Catalogue number: CMASS008CD / CMASS008LP

Order the album HERE.

Some reviews from the press:

ROCKNYTT.NET (Rating: 5/5)
Pete Flesh, or Peter Karlsson, as his real name, has a past in the cult band Maze of Torment and Deceiver. Gradually, he formed one-man band Flesh, where he regaled all instruments and vocals, apart from the drums that were managed by Magnus “Flingan” Flink, an old squire from Deceiver.

2013 he changed the band name to The Pete Flesh Deathtrip, and the lineup consisted of Pete Flesh, with the assistance of Micke Broberg on vocals (check the phenomenal Born for Burning) and Andreas Jonsson on drums. On “Svartnad”, the drum throne has been taken over by Henrik Borg, who also contributed to give production a more groovy, while more nuanced sound than on previous albums. With that said, I want to emphasize that I also fell for the more primitive sound of the previous albums. It is simply that the new production was exactly what this work needed to provide the black death themes in the dark evocative compositions justice.

It sounds like Pete Flesh more and more have approached some kind of essence over the years, away from all the restless excursions in different genres, and back to some kind of original and solid metal that does not necessarily have to be genre classified, even if the name Blackened death doom is used by Pete Flesh himself. Sure, one can draw parallels to early Tiamat, Paradise Lost, Celtic Frost, and Bathory above all, but it does not matter. This is very independent. Innovative? Matters less. It’s 100 percent dedication.

Where “Mortui Vivos Docent” sounded more aggressive, “Svartnad” sounds more atmospheric and angst ridden. More mature. The songs often go at a leisurely pace, and may take more time to grow and bloom (if flowers can be mentioned in a review of the extreme metal). Even when I hear the disc’s initial tempo-shifting “In Ruinam Iniquitas” and its second track “Burial Shore”, I realize that this is something extraordinary. One composition seem more perfect than the other, and after five listenings, I find new favorites. There is not a single weak track on the entire album. The final composition “Svartnad” pulls down the listener in a breathtaking chasm deep darkness. It is also amazingly beautiful.

I also wonder what happened to the vocals, because there has been a major development. Pete Flesh has never sounded this emotional and desperate before. “She Dwells Into the Dark”, to take a telling example, is so convincingly strong that I want to return again and again, something which otherwise only occurs when I listen to hugely talented artists such as Chuck Schuldiner and Quorthon.

Unsurprisingly, the disc has already been praised by reviewers (especially abroad). This album is just the flat metal scene needs today. The Pete Flesh Deathtrip is so far away from the tiresome poseur, meaty Pro Tools nu-metal, neutered cock-rock and thoughtful hipster black metal you can get. It is not impossible that this album will be regarded as a classic come – and it deserves it.

CLOSE-UP MAGAZINE, Sweden (Rating: 8/10)
On the second album under the project name based Pete Flesh (vocals, guitar, bass, ex-Maze Of Torment) builds on the tradition of fat riffs and raw vocals of World Class. The recipe is based on death and black, but with a high degree of introvert darkness not unlike recent Celtic Frost and Triptykon. A fateful and profane atmosphere pervades the entire album and gets extra evident in tracks like lead heavy “Burial Shore” and doomsday swingin “The Sun Will Fail “. The album has also been blessed with a remarkably good sound stage where all the instruments are given clear place while it has a raw energy that are otherwise usually found in older and more analog productions. The final and impressive title track cements my belief that it is one of this years strongest albums I listen to.

WORSHIPMETAL.COM (Rating: 9/10)
With a sound that only ever comes from Scandinavia, “Svartnad” – the second album from The Pete Flesh Deathtrip – may have more in common with Immortal than In Flames and the Gothenburg brigade but an old-school vibe pervades throughout; one which also echoes the primal works of Possessed, early Sodom and the genre-defining Bathory.

While “Svartnad” is certainly not a carbon copy of these underground legends it’s the atmosphere that draws the most valued comparison. There’s plenty of bands out there screaming, blasting and picking tremolo riffs like their lives depend on it but pure, breathless, skin-crawling atmosphere is damned hard to find. Well, you’ll find it here. The Pete Flesh Deathtrip conjures fevered nightmarish hallucinations as easy as Steve Harris peels off galloping bass riffs and the overall effect is suffocatingly palpable.

Stripped down to its purest essence “Svartnad” is hate eternal, blacker and bleaker than an untimely meeting with Satan himself on a desolate windswept moor. Ominous bells chime (“Burial Shore”), buzzsaw riffs mesh with the icy sound of prime Immortal (“The Winter Of The Wolves”) and epiglottis eviscerating guttural growls narrate a tortured journey which takes in classic Scandinavian death metal and Bathory’s pioneering Viking metal along the way.

T.P.F.D.T is the real deal. Punchy, classy, honest, intelligent and capable of creeping under your skin with each perfectly considered riff and tormented growl; “Svartnad” is the complete package and a blackened death/thrash rollercoaster ride of anguished emotion.

One man? ”Svartnad” sounds like the work of legions! 9/10

SWEDEN ROCK MAGAZINE, Sweden (Rating: 8/10)
It is always a delight to the ear when musicians, despite the obvious influences and clear musical court, can release something truly surprising. Peter “Pete Flesh” Karlsson (ex Maze of Torment) builds on the Swedish scenes more eclectic releases, like early Tiamat and the first Runemagick album, and is based on the loop-death melancholy from the debut albums of Eucharist and Unanimated. The formula giving birth to songs like “Burial Shore” and “The Sun Will Fail,” where Flesh spews out dark, compact mourn and hefty grave-riffs with heartfelt disgust and regret.
In “Winter of the Wolves” takes off immediately, then lands directly under the coffin lid. The chorus has such finality that it would act as a soundtrack to the doomsday where everything breaks down and falls into a bottomless pit. Sound is powerful and organic, the instrumental beating is stylishly restrained, yet spontaneous. The song material, finally, it is undoubtedly the best Mr Flesh has performed so far.