Reviews list for Mechina - Xenon (2014)

Following the good yet messy Empyrean, Xenon rises slightly higher with a better stylistic balance to prove the uniqueness of Mechina. And it can surpass Conqueror as well. Xenon continues to build up from what the band had in the previous two albums. As always, you can expect the djenty rhythms, keyboard melodies, and orchestral majesty, courtesy of Joe Tiberi. Plus some cool vocals, both clean and unclean. As much of a great achievement as this is, again the bombastic epicness tires me out...

It's not just the style that's more balanced, but also the production. The riffing machinery is taken to the front stage. Now you can hear the distorted grooves soar through the cosmos. Also appealing is the drumming by David Gavin. Sadly, he would leave the band after this album, and the drumming in all subsequent albums is programmed.

"Cepheus" is a bonus track in the Compendium edition of the album, and a pummeling 10-minute epic. It's my favorite track of the entire album and makes up for whatever mess the main album would have later, just like Empyrean's Compendium bonus track "Andromeda". It would be better if "Cepheus" was Xenon's ending or near-ending epic though. The title track that opens the main album is filled with f***ing underrated epic cinematic cyber metal to love! You can just imagine travelling through lightyears of space and centuries (even millennia) of time. But it can't work as an individual track when it segues straight to "Alithea". Then "Zoticus" marks another wonderful highlight, having a more upbeat tone compared to the rest of the album.

"Terrea", on the other hand, is rather terrible, going back to the messy side of the previous two albums. It is made up for by the glorious "Tartarus". You can swim through different dimensions ranging from cyber to deathly, as a saga unfolds, almost competing with Marvel, Star Wars, and even The Elder Scrolls. A truly dark ethereal collision! "Phedra" doesn't do much for the album, but I still approve. "Thales" is another brilliant standout. It can actually be enjoyed well as an individual track, with its more direct feel and not having to bleed into another track.

Going through "Erebus", there are female vocals and well-composed symphonics that you can hear in Nightwish. But it is blended with the metal heaviness that brings things closer to Xerath. A true theatrical gift! "Amyntas" is kind of a weak track to segue into, though not really a stinker. Their attempt to go all-out The Amenta in their last full song doesn't work out as much as it should. Then it all ends in dark tranquility (not the band) in the outro "Actaeon", a nice reprise to the title track's piano intro.

Xenon has a lot for you to get used to, but eventually you can embrace this multi-track cyber metal symphony and remember the more impressive moments. Joe Tiberi continues to reign as a master of epic futuristic cyber metal, with more releases appearing throughout the next 10 years, to be heard through space and time....

Favorites: "Cepheus", "Xenon", "Zoticus", "Tartarus", "Thales", "Erebus"