Flourishing – A Momentary Sense of the Immediate World EP (The Path Less Traveled Records, 2010)

Flourishing whip the vital essences of death metal and grindcore to stiff peaks on A Momentary Sense of the Immediate World. The results are stunning, unique and immensely enjoyable.

Garrett Bussanick channels Immolation with tumbling riffs that induce instant sea-sickness. At the same time, dissonant notes collide at acute angles to evoke Discordance Axis. While Bob Vigna or Rob Marton might take you to the edge of a melodious universe, they always retreat to their atonal dystopia at the last second. Flourishing are more willing to commune with the flying whale denizens of the galaxy, and they cross over frequently into overt guitar melody. These passages certainly bring to mind Gojira and experimental era Napalm Death without ever feeling saccharine. Flourishing go so far as to invoke a bit of the industrial-melodic-drone of Justin Broadrick's Jesu for brief passages.

Brian Corcoran comes from the Dave Witte school of drumming and maintains a precise grindcore rigor throughout the EP. The injection of more complicated footwork into the typical grind regimen reminds me frequently of Obscura era Gorguts. The percussion is phenomenal throughout, and I find myself repeatedly thinking of The Inalienable Dreamless. Eric Rizk's excellent bass is an important piece of the Flourishing puzzle, often leading the charge or giving the songs the dreaded “groove” that Jon Chang so vehemently opposed.

The curious lyrics read like prose, expressing strange and abstract thoughts. The predominant feelings I take away are alienation and anxiety, but tinged with whimsical wonder. In “Fixture,” Garrett Bussanick screams “Caffeine, caffeine, my pal, caffeine. Artificial. Motivator. My chemically inclined friend.” Taking a trip down the rabbit hole with these lyrics certainly enhances the listening experience. It's hard not to smile as Garrett yells “I feel so at ease as wind whisks through my cracked skull.” The vocals are solid, mid-range death dealings. Drummer Brian Corocoran occasionally adds gnarly, hardcore-tinged fulminations to the mix.

The five tracks on this EP are fascinating and completely addictive. These lean songs are each of perfect length; there's no fat to be found. I find myself listening to the album on repeat for long periods of time with no loss of interest. Flourishing have concocted a potent and cohesive musical experience, and I can't wait to hear more from them.

91/100

I bought the EP directly from the record label, but you can also find this on Amazon.

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