The chorus of Matricide 8.21, the seventh song on Fleshgod Apocalypse’s sixth album, sees frontman Francesco Paoli sing an affectionate apology to his mum. ‘Sorry for making you pray for me! Mother, forgive me!’ the vocalist/bassist begs. It’s a surprising outpouring of emotion from a symphonic death metal band that has preferred blastbeating, string-stacked aggression to any hint of vulnerability.
However, the past three years have been profound for the singer. He had a near-death experience in 2021, when he slipped while climbing and dangled upside-down from a cliff, tied up in his own ropes. It necessitated nerve transfer surgery, with much of this album – a concept piece about the fall and subsequent recuperation – being written by Francesco in his bed.
