I enjoyed Cephalic Carnage’s previous release “Anomalies”
however, upon hearing “Xenosapien” I knew I was in for a wild ride. As I’ve
stated before, technical death metal, along with mathcore and Djent can be a
very hit or miss. I find that many bands try to replicate a particular sound, or
an atmosphere that fits the style’s narrative, but in the process, fails to create
their own distinct sound. In the case of Cephalic Carnage, they’ve been in the
game for a while (13 years on the year of this release) and over that time,
they’ve learned a thing or two.
Yes, “Xenosapien” is a blend of deathgrind and technical
death metal, one that centers around bizarre time shifts, crazy riffs and
spastic vocals. However, even though, this is follow the formula that I was
talking about earlier, Xenosapien more than creates its own footprint. The
first thing I noticed was how the entire album flows seamlessly, yet never
settles into a comfort zone. The songs start, go through various tempo shifts,
insane riffs and pummeling drums and doesn’t quit until the song ends. “Touched
by an Angel”, “Divination and Volition” and “Endless Cycle of Violence” display
this seamless chaos perfectly, while “G.lobal O.verhaul D.evice” throws a
curveball into the fold by adding a little saxophone to the mix. On that note,
one thing that this album has compared to the many tech/deathgrind acts out
there is a uniqueness factor. I’m not going to say that each and every song is
excellent, but at the very least, each song has its own identity.
All in all, “Xenosapien” is a fun listen that, although is
not a masterpiece by any stretch, has enough individuality to stand out on its
own. Not every song on this release will knock your socks off, but I doubt you’ll
become bored with the overall experience. If you enjoy a little tech/deathgrind
be sure to give this a listen, but I think those seeking a little dose of the bizarre
will be more than satisfied.
Highlights: “Touched by an Angel”, “Divination and Volition”
“Endless Cycle of Violence” “Molting”
Rating: 3.5
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