Cryptosis – The Silent Call (EP)
Release Date: 1st December 2023
Label: Century Media
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Genre: Death Metal, Symphonic Death, Death-Thrash.
FFO: Schizophrenia, Children of Bodom, Slayer.
Review By: Andy Spoon
I really think that the vocals on The Silent Call are either inspired by thrash vocals from the 1980s. I think there is quite a bit of James Hetfield in the vocal section, something that I found to be quite fun. It doesn’t seem like a tribute or even as “inspired by”, but just the vocalist’s personal style that runs parallel to the old Hetfield-esque technique from the “big 4” days of American Thrash. I think that it works extremely-well with the death metal sound on the album. I think that it’s also a little bit funny that he uses the word “MASTER!” on both the first two track on the album. That makes the parallel a little more “on the nose”.
One of the notable instruments is the pads and strings that (purportedly) come from the strings on the title track “The Silent Call”. They assist in making a melodic background for the thrashy-death metal in front of the sound wall. The speed on the tracks is also exactly what fans of the death-thrash or thrash genres want. It’s fast-paced, furious in its attack, giving some additional argument for it being a thrash album, rather than a melodic death metal album. I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of influences, as the strings, vocals, and track pace were something that gave me pleasure while listening.
Master of Life, track 2, is much faster and heavier, at least in my perception. I think that it’s a track that I wanted to go on for a while – with its proggy breakdowns, dissonant harmonics on guitar, and Metallica-style vocals. I really enjoyed the entire song so much that I was a little disappointed when it cut off at 04:13. I honestly could have spent another few minutes with it.
One of the sad things about this album is that it isn’t technically new material. Master of Life is an unreleased track from the band’s 2021 session recording. Further, the last 2 tracks are live performances. While those are very cool, I was really hoping for a bit more of the “meat and potatoes” material. That being said, Cryptosis might be saving that material for a full length to be released in the coming days/months/years. As someone who doesn’t know, I can conclude that I am hoping for more material from this band, given their abilities and style.
If anything, The Silent Call ought to wet people’s appetites for more fresh music from Cryptosis, as it did for me. I quite enjoyed the live tracks, wanting to dive into the studio recordings as well after hearing how well the recordings were done. I give a strong A+ for the live aspect of the recording. I’m 100% sold on wanting to see these fellas live, based on that alone. Perhaps The Silent Call was a way to keep fans on the hook for more material. I didn’t see anything on the album that stood on its own as “new” material, making me think that the EP is a gift to fans and other music-seekers who want more of Cryptosis. I fully-approve. It was an above-average endeavor that was a quick-but-satisfying respite from other bands in the subgenre with its old school vocals and synth work.
(3.5 / 5)
