Cryptosis – Bionic Swarm
Release Date: 26th March 2021
Label: Century Media Records
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Genre: Progressive Thrash, “Futuristic Multi-Metal”.
FFO: Voivod, Fear Factory, Vektor, Distillator.
Review By: Kenny Newall
Bionic Swarm by Dutch “futuristic multi-metalling,” newcomers, Cryptosis has me bewildered somewhat. First off, what the fuck is futuristic multi-metal, the description they give themselves on their Facebook page, and as Cryptosis are, from what I can see, just Distillator with a new name – is this really a debut? Second off, technically maybe, but a debut for me is a new band, so no I don’t consider this a debut as such. And first off Distillator were a so-so thrash band that learnt their chops from the 80s Teutonic school of thrash that seem to have come into contact with Fear Factory. (Just an aside – Am I the only one that thinks Tankard are a bit shit and they should have just left it at a Big 3 for Germany)? Anyway, hardly game changing and like Encyclopaedia Metallum I’m going to stick with progressive thrash.
It is quite a progression, right enough, though their previous Distillator outings were lower bill, side tent festival fare, so there was room for improvement. But they have moved into the 21st century with a slightly slicker production and some electronic elements that are an improvement. The vocals are a big evolve, benefiting from a blackened deathening away from the screechier heights of the past. They were always there, but the emphasis has changed. There’s a decent amount of tempo change to keep things interesting and although most of it is obviously and enjoyably fast, I really liked a lot of the slower passages. But overall, there just isn’t really anything to get that worked up about considering what else is out there. One of those bands I’d no doubt really enjoy at a festival, but never want to listen to anywhere else.
(Miscellaneous thoughts: Flux Divergence nails the Tom Araya scream. The album is set in 2149 where machines rule, but are The Rolling Stones still touring? And surely the Eliran Kantor cover art suggests giant shrimp are in control which is a much more original concept than the Matrixing machines.)
(2.5 / 5)
