It is incredibly rare to see a band blow up in popularity after releasing their debut, but even if it is rare, it is not impossible to see, especially nowadays. This is something that Fleshwater have accomplished. This outfit are known for their mesmerising vocals and intricate musicianship, which has evidently been elevated in 2000: In Search of the Endless Sky. These tracks are varied enough, but with vocal performances as strong as the ones on this album, it is hard to think about anything else.
‘Green Street’ is the second song on the tracklist but is the first track that is four minutes long. Immediately, you get hit with the harsh vocals of Anthony DiDio, which contrast the mind-blowing cleans of MIRSY, which is something the listener gets throughout these ten tracks. Even though the vocals are the focal point, there are punk sounding elements that get combined with metalcore traits which results in a fascinating listening experience.
‘Jetpack’ is the song that directly follows and is a continuation of ‘Green Street’. It still has that punk feel, but is slower in parts, and as a result the track feels much more melancholic. Because of these tempo contrasts, this song feels unconventional and is a true stand out, once again vocally as well as musically.
The halfway point in 2000: In Search of the Endless Sky is marked by ‘Be Your Best’, a song that starts out slightly electronic, but also has an arena rock vibe to it. The vocals are cinematic and the drums sound massive. The guitars do not pack the same punch as they have this far into the record as this is a more mellow song, which gives the listener a breather before things inevitably pick up again.
‘Sundown’ is one of those bangers that deceive you. The first half is a ballad, and is very soft, and even though this is not a heavy song by any means, the second half of the track feels like a mid-paced hard rock track as the full band joins in. Once again though, the vocals steal the show, and are the focus point. Combining all these elements makes for yet another very fun listen.
The album closer is as consistently fast paced as some of the other songs on this album, but still finds a way to stand out. The pre chorus does not match the velocity of the rest of the song, but the chorus explodes back into the opening riff’s fast pace. On top of the rhythm changes, the chorus has a punk feel once again, but the final chorus is executed perfectly with both vocalists showcasing their range, and it makes for an unbelievable end to this musically sensational record.
For the most part, this album is consistent all the way through, with the longer four-minute tracks all being fantastic, but there are a couple of songs that are only a couple of minutes long, and those not only ruin the flow of this listening experience but are also rather underwhelming. Take those two songs away, and you are left with an album that includes some of the best vocals I have heard this year so far.
Overall, though, with an album this strong both vocally and musically, it is easy to see why Fleshwater are so big this early on into their career. This is an album that will appeal to punk fans, metalcore fans and even prog fans, but those who like their mesmerising vocals are the ones that will enjoy this experience the most. If this is the calibre of music this band is releasing at this early stage in their career, they deserve to and will dominate the alternative music scene for the foreseeable future.
Fleshwater – 2000: In Search of the Endless Sky – Out 5 September 2025 (Closed Casket Activities)
