Cryptosis - Bionic Swarm (2021)Release ID: 26669
I'm returning to this now after a gap of nine months from it's release as I failed to connect with it at all first time around due to it's technical edge, me not being the biggest fan of so-called "technical metal". Now that I have given it chance to settle in I am much better disposed towards it than I was last spring. Yes, there is a degree of technicality to the Dutchmen's thrashery, but it isn't as wanky as some technical thrash bands and the tracks still do what I like thrash tracks to do which is provide sufficient neck-wrenching aggression to facilitate headbanging overload. The musicianship is excellent and the songwriting is great, as I said, it does provide a degree of technicality but never loses sight of the fact that it is first and foremost a thrash metal record and ensures that it delivers on that front before incorporating the technicality into the songs.
I love Laurens Houvast's vocals, they are plenty aggressive and just the right side of ragged to give the impression of a singer pouring his all into his art. The riffs are sufficiently memorable and are tight as fuck with not a single note out of place, no matter how fast they are played and the soloing (always a bellweather in thrash metal) is impressively white hot. So with these thrash fundamentals firmly in place I am more than willing to overlook the odd bit of technical bollocks as it in no way detracts from what I turn to a thrash album for. Better late to the party than never to party at all I guess.
What is of particular interest is the incorporation of that old favourite of 70's prog outfits, the mellotron. It is actually utilised extremely well and doesn't impinge on or blunt the album's aggressiveness in any way. It is most obviously felt, I think, on Prospect of Immortality, which seems to be the track everyone is talking about due to it's slower pace and it's more diverse and even proggy feel. Ostensibly the album is a science fiction concept album, which is no problem for me at all as I love both sci-fi and concept albums, but in all truth I don't think this should be a deal breaker for those who don't as it still works merely as a damn fine thrash album. Nearly everyone is comparing this to Vektor and I will concede to those who know the work of the Arizonans better than I, but I prefer this to Vektor as this just thrashes harder.
So, to summarise my thoughts, this is a great thrash album that happens to have a bit of a technical bent and some interesting use of keyboards that enhance the band's thrash credentials rather than detracting from them. More of this, please.
In the world of thrash metal there are many artists I am sure with some USP (unique selling point - for the uninitiated) in their sound, look or ideology. I can't really name any that are too far out there but I don't know of any that count a mellotron amongst their instruments. Now, a mellotron is an electro-mechanical piano first produced en-masse in the 60's. Artists ranging from The Beatles through to King Crimson have used the instrument and so to see it listed on a progressive thrash album has some sense of irony associated with it, based on the King Crimson reference at least, as well as still being a curved ball in 2021.
If you want to hear an example of it, check out the opening of Mindscape on the internet and you will soon grasp its distinct sound. When deployed, it puts real depth in the sci-fi themed atmospherics that Cryptosis use throughout Bionic Swarm to good effect. Straight away the Vektor comparisons come in both by virtue of the sub-genre tag and also the construct of the music as well - there's a reason these guys did a split release! But whereas Vektor go for all out technical wankery and really progressive structures there is an element of that being paired back with Cryptosis and with positive outcomes to boot.
Vocalist, Laurens Houvast has a gruffness in his bark and doesn't try to overdo the ear-splitting shrieks at any point and as such his vocals compliment the flow and roll of the music perfectly. He drops in the higher end of his range to finish some sentences here and there but they feel part of everything else that is going on at the same time as opposed to some distracting piece that is trying to do out-do the rest of the sound. His guitar work is busy throughout in terms of riffing and his lead work feels quite restrained without leaving the record devoid of some flair and grandiosity, whilst his use of progressive structure and melody at the same time is virtually flawless. Meanwhile, the solid and consistent drum work of Marco Prij stands out as another notable part of proceedings. Although sometimes a little too hidden in the mix he still stands up well in the face of some of the more blistering moments from Houvast. Mellotron supremo, Frank te Riet also handles bass duties and you can hear him firmly plonking away in the background across the album.
All in all this is great release to usher in the dawn of the band's new name having spent years as Distillator before their increase in progressive focus. It isn't perfect of course but it is going to be exciting to see where these guys go on subsequent releases.
Whether living your life personally or professionally, you are bound to reconsider and change your path. Man's best creative achievements include artistic experimentation and renewal. Our evolution is much different from that of other creatures, with tons of changes that define who we are. After the fall of the somewhat unknown Distillator, this Dutch trio of metallers (vocalist/guitarist Laurens Houvast, bassist Frank te Riet, and drummer Marco Prij) did what the creators of Phineas and Ferb did after their show ended; start a new one! This time, they altered the thrash destruction of Distillator and took it a step forward into a futuristic progressive style to create... Bionic Swarm!
Meanwhile, American prog-thrashers Vektor reformed with a slightly different style, and both bands' changes were first exhibited in their split album Transmissions of Chaos. With the first Cryptosis album Bionic Swarm, there are a few things different from the usual thrash including Frank's mellotron synths creating ethereal ambience for the futuristic concept. This progressive thrash approach includes hardcore/death metal overtones surrounded by symphonics.
An ambient "Overture 2149" sets up the mood needed for the album. Then "Decypher" begins the prog-thrash action in a perfect blast, welcoming fans to the band's new cycle of creativity as probably one of the best songs of the album. The perfect blend of fury and harmony is mixed together with futuristic textures that stand as the concept. The interesting dynamics and rhythms bridge together the band's influences from Vektor, Coroner, and Megadeth. Despite the prog-thrash approach for the album, there's the simple verse-chorus structure that fits well as the sun of the solar system of all those elements. This minor detail serves as a stabilizing counterbalance for the technicality and progressiveness. The Megadeth-like riffing continues in "Death Technology".
"Prospect of Immortality" is more atmospheric, and what's unique compared to the other songs is, the guitar leads and solos take a break from technical simplicity to match the splendor of the other elements. "Transcendence" has a chorus that very well screams out the band's Vektor influences. "Perpetual Motion" is an ambient intermission.
The large brutality returns in "Conjuring the Egoist", breaking through walls at full speed and power. They sure know what they're doing with their razor-sharp thrash style. "Game of Souls" once again shows the band is at the top of their progressive thrash game. "Mindscape" has perfect harmony before the album's fierce remainder... "Flux Divergence" ends the album and narrative with nearly the same level of chaos as the album began. Once again, the strongest achievements by the band are made in creative maturity while gaining a bit of diversity.
Bionic Swarm shows this Dutch trio leaping into more than just stylistic change, it's a full-on reinvention of their creativity. Cryptosis' progressive-thrash hybrid brings new fresh hope to a style that has lacked attention. While I wouldn't put this album into the avant-garde category, its sense of adventure and audacity makes this album one of the most remarkable albums in the recent times of progressive thrash metal!
Favorites: "Decypher", "Prospect of Immortality", "Transcendence", "Mindscape", "Flux Divergence"
