Their debut, Mirrors, took the UK underground by surprise with its violent offering of mathcore and, never one to rest on their laurels, followed it up with the luscious, expansive, yet still abrasive Blossom. Just two years after Blossom, it’s interesting to see on which side of their canvas Pupil Slicer have chosen to paint from.
Fleshwork, by design, is a far more oppressive offering but without a lot of the obvious complexities of its predecessors. Tackling complex topics like systemic abuse, erasure of marginalised communities, and societal destruction with a more front facing, stripped back sonic palette is the right course of action. Gone are the labyrinthine song structures of Blossom, and in their place stand a collection of songs that aim to take a hammer to the face and stand over you expressionless. For the most part, this approach is incredibly successful. The opening triptych of ‘Heather’, ‘Gordian’, and ‘Sacrosanct’are punchy, violent bursts that could go toe to toe with a heavyweight boxer and get a knockdown or two. Kate Davies is also in top form vocally, while new addition to the band Luke Booth (bassist) feels like such a natural fit alongside his rhythmic counterpart, the always impressive Josh Andrews.
However, the lack of any reprieve, despite its relatively short run length, does leave Fleshwork feeling stretched out and wanting in key moments. Particularly in the middle of the record, it’s not so much that Pupil Slicer have ran out of ideas, but that attempt to keep the listener in a state of crushing oppression doesn’t quite land. It’s almost like the band on tracks like ‘Innocence’ and the title track itself don’t go far enough to create discomfort, as if they’re playing a little within themselves. As well, there is a feeling that the correct creative decisions have not matched up with the finished article. Closer ‘Cenote’ ends the record in a way that is supposed to feel unresolved. Given the subject matter, this was the right decision and a really brave step, that unfortunately does just leave wanting more without the gravitas and impact the band were hoping to achieve.
At its best, Fleshwork punches the hardest and can stand up alongside with the rest of anything in Slicer’s discography. There is certainly a turning point happening in Pupil Slicer’s career, and Fleshwork may eventually stand as the awkward fork in the road between what came before, and what is still to be a very bright future.