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Artist: CYNICON
Album: Cybernetic
Year: 2003
Spikefarm is known as an extravagant label, which is not
afraid to release some original but weird, unknown stuff.
Bands like The Wicked and Finntroll are maybe the most
known examples, but there are way more bands who fit
into this description. One of those bands is Cynicon
from Norway, who said to be making futuristic black
metal. After a few demo's, Spikefarm agreed to release
their debut album Cybernetic in 2003.
The Cynicon definition of futuristic black metal already
reveals itself in the first song of the album, the title
track 'Cybernetic'. This is an easy listening track,
with little tips of Samael and The Kovenant here and
there. There are some excellent synth parts in this
song, and the drums transform this song into a powerful
modern cyber metal song. 'Astral Luminance' follows the
path that has been taken with the first song: powerful
drums, cold synth parts and easy listening. Although,
after two minutes and some seconds this singer scared me
with his power metal voice, but fortunately it was the
first and the last time he used them in this song. The
black metal influences are less brought to the front in
this song than in 'Cybernetic' if you ask me. Track 3,
'Neutronomicon', starts with some symphonic black metal.
Some Dimmu Borgir influences are clearly heard, although
they didn't betray the cyber path they walk. The outro
is very powerful. Although the next song,
'Intragalactic', has a very cyberlikely title, the song
starts with almost pure melodic black metal. But after
50 seconds, the (un)glorious return of the power metal
voice is a fact. As I try to mention before, I really
dislike these kind of vocals, and I think they ruin the
song because musically it is one of the better ones of
this record. Well, enough complaining, time for
'Presence', a cold cyber metal song. The first thing
that came up in my mind is Malmonde meets T3chn0ph0b1a.
And like you might know, I really love both those bands,
so how can I hate this song? Best song of the album,
period! 'Momentary' is again a more black metal song.
Again a powerful and symphonic track, although I still
complain about the power metal vocals (they return again
in this song). The final track 'Enlightment' starts like
a Dimmu Borgir song, but soon the cyber takes over. When
you continue to listen to this song, I think you can
best describe it as the package of all their influences:
from black metal to orchestral stuff, from power metal
to death metal and this all covered in a cyber
atmosphere. I must admit that I love this song, although
still the returning screams keep on irritating me.
Well, what can we say about this in the end? Original?
Yes. Powerful? Yes. Refreshing? Yes. Irritating?
Sometimes, but that is because my strong hate against
power metal vocals. A good buy? Definitely!
Vote: 82 / 100
Review by: Gerardo |
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01. Cybernetic
02. Astral Luminance
03. Neutronomicon
04. Intragalactic
05. Presence
06. Momentary
07. Enlightment |
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