Cryptopsy "Blasphemy Made Flesh (1997 Reissue, Holland, Displeased Records, D-00054)"

Blasphemy Made Flesh is the debut album by Canadian death metal band Cryptopsy, released on November 25, 1994 through Invasion Records. It was re-released in 1997 by Displeased Records, and in 2001 by Century Media with a different cover. The album was recorded at Piranha Studio in Montreal. It is the only album to feature bassist Martin Fergusson.

The music on Blasphemy Made Flesh has been described as "sophisticated" and as having an "off-kilter personality." Its style has been described as a more "maniacal" and "chaotic" approach to the "technical, percussive" style of Suffocation. The album contains many tempo changes, and has been noted for its "extreme speed". Todd Nief of AllMusic described the musicianship as "technically impressive, but occasionally sloppy in an almost punk way," and music journalist T Coles assessed that the band "uses the momentum to elevate their ideas from complex to just plain overwhelming." The guitar and bass work has been described as "complex and dramatic". Lord Worm's vocal style on the album incorporates death growls and high shrieks. His vocal performance has been described as "all over the place," and his choices of vocal rhythms to punctuate phrases as "awkward". The album also contains melodic guitar riffs that have drawn comparisons to Iron Maiden.

These songs are essentially linear, as each riff is run through a variety of tempos before undergoing a slight mutation to carry the song forward. Then, a new musical idea is introduced suddenly through a stuttering transition or a slapped bassline.

- Todd Nief of AllMusic

Todd Nief of AllMusic said, "The switch between technical death metal, rhythmic pounding, and sped-up Iron Maiden riffing is occasionally jarring, but this album "works" as a whole. Cryptopsy's ear for catchy rhythm and desire to push the boundaries of an aesthetic make Blasphemy Made Flesh a resounding success."

Track listing

All songs written and arranged by Cryptopsy.

1. "Defenestration" 4:32
2. "Abigor" 3:52
3. "Open Face Surgery" 4:25
4. "Serial Messiah" 4:01
5. "Born Headless" 4:29
6. "Swine of the Cross" 3:06
7. "Gravaged (A Cryptopsy)" 2:47
8. "Memories of Blood" 3:34
9. "Mutant Christ" 4:21
10. "Pathological Frolic" 4:35

Total length: 39:42

Cover photography and logo by Florent Mounier

Design, artwork and image manipulation by François Quévillon, based on the original 1994 design.

Tracks 2, 7, 9, previously released on the "Ungentle Exhumation" demo.

Recording information:

Produced by Cryptopsy.

Recorded at Piranha Studio, Montreal, Canada in April 1994.

Jacky Mounier – photography

Rod "The God" Shearer – engineering

Kevin Weagle – design