(Century Media)
Celestial Death is the second full-length from the Dutch trio and Cryptosis continue to be a shot of life into thrash. They are much more than that, but it is their baseline. Imagine an extreme version of Voivod.
Cryptosis takes their sci-fi sounds even further with use of synthesizers and mellotrons interspersed. They add a texture of foreboding horror that also serves as a reminder of early ‘90s RPGs. The mix is impeccable, complete and total clarity with searing guitars, a lively bass, and blistering drums with a variety of blastbeats and precise rhythmic detail.
They juggle speed, prog, death, and edging accessibility (“Ascending” being the most ear-friendly) under controlled chaos. “In Between Realities” has this stark early-Megadeth quality with its brazen technicality while “Absent Presence” has a disturbing, pulsating doom with the threatening riffs.
The brilliant artwork from Eliran Kantor is an apt representation of the music and lyrics within – journeying into space running into unknown horrors and diabolical mysteries. Celestial is bookended by instrumentals compounding this atmosphere with closer “Coda – Wander Into The Light” having this longing, droning guitar with synth effects and opener “Prologue – Awakening” acting as the device to launch into the technical calamity of “Faceless Matter”.
The directionless, short instrumental “Motionless Balance” does not do much and the slightly reworked “The Silent Call” from their 2023 EP was an unnecessary inclusion. Nonetheless, this is 42 minutes of technical bedlam launched into the cosmos.
Rating: 8.0
Source: bravewords.com
