UMUR
"Fresco Lungs" is an EP release by Finnish thrash metal/death metal act Phlegethon. The EP was released through Witchhunt Records in 1991. It´s succeded by the October 1989 "Visio Dei Beatifica" demo and the June 1990 "Neutral Forest" demo. The material from "Fresco Lungs" is included on the January 2010 "Drifting in the Crypt" (Xtreem Music) compilation album.
A rather drastic change has taken place in the lineup since the release of the "Neutral Forest" demo as bassist Jussi Nyblom has taken over the vocal duties from guitarist Teemu Hannonen, who sang on the two preceding demos. Hannonen has a raw aggressive snarling vocal style, which suited the predominantly fast-paced Slayer influenced thrash metal of the demos, but Nyblom is a completely different vocalist as his vocals are death metal growls, and therefore Phlegethon is now a death metal act instead of a raw and brutal thrash metal act like they were on the demos.
The instrumental part of the music has also changed. At least on the two new tracks on the EP titled "0-520" and "The Golden Face". The two remaining tracks are re-recorded versions of "Encapsulation of the Ark of the Covenant" (which originally appeared on "Visio Dei Beatifica") and "Ornaments" (which originally appeared on "Neutral Forest"). So the two latter still feature some thrash metal riffs and rhythms, but even those two tracks have been re-arranged and they now appear slower and more death/doom metal heavy and atmospheric (but still presented with relatively high level technical performances). There´s an almost darkly psychadelic stoner doom tone and some death´n´roll tendencies to the new tracks. The 1992 reissue of the EP (Chaos Records) features two bonus tracks titled "Stone Me" and "Without Tea Waters" which are also in this new more eclectic style, so "Fresco Lungs" is generally a pretty eclectic release.
It´s also a bit confusing and as a consequence of the somewhat powerless sounding production, it´s maybe not the successful transition to death metal that one could have hoped for. Phlegethon called it a day after this release and only reunited shortly in 1995 to record a promo tape before disbanding again. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.