Artist: Cryptopsy
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 10/31/00
Average Rating: 4.5
Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album
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Title: And Then You'll Beg Artist: Cryptopsy Label: Century Media Release Date: 10/31/00 |
There are currently 2 Reader Reviews of this album.
Average Rating: 4.5 Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album |
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Submitted by Anonymous (7/21/01):
"That is the sound...of inevitability": I think I can let Cryptopsy go on a Matrix quote.Cryptopsy's fourth studio album takes it up a notch. There's far better production than the previous works here, and every instrument you can hear quite clearly. Which is good, since there's a hell of a lot going on here you need to hear to fully appreciate the album. And of course, like all Cryptopsy albums, the star here once again is drummer Flo Mounier. Flo has officially become the Keith Moon of the metal scene. Despite the fast-as-fuck blast beats (seeing him play live is a 40-minute orgasm) there's a ton of improv on the kit. Listen to "My Prodigal Son" for a really good example.
The only thing that keeps this from getting 5 stars is the album's best point, sadly enough, its technicality. There are some insane riffs here, but in the midst of the psychotic storm of the album, there are so many time changes that it's hard to get into. It works for bands like Soilent Green, but for some reason it doesn't work here. If you're into technicality though, this album is for you. Unfortunately, Cryptopsy's style is so fucked up that it's near impossible to categorize them. Think... hell, I don't know. Vader, Suffocation, Immolation, Lamb of God... I give up.
OK, correction, there are TWO things from keeping this as a 5-star album. Vocalist Mike Disalvo, whose "I'm an angry man who wants his meat raw" vocal approach doesn't coincide well with the rest of the album. There's a lot of swampcore influence in his vocals, but it doesn't belong here. Maybe Eyehategod.
Three word review "to quote Amadeus": Too many notes.
Submitted by Swansong (4/13/01):
Cryptopsy is definitely a unique entity-- one that I feel is without a doubt the most intense, brutal, and technically adept band that I've ever seen or heard, period. They're first album was impressive aside from its poor production, but an inkling of their forthcoming genius could be heard in their second album, None So Vile. They pursued even more technical endeavours with the addition of Mike DiSalvo on vocals for Whisper Supremacy and their newest monstrous creation, ...And Then You'll Beg.Unfortunately, the first listen reveals little more than a contiguous blast of aggression and technical prowess, as there is simply too much going on in most of the songs for the mind to decode. One might erroneously throw it aside as too technical or atonal to enjoy in the least (I confess I thought this too). What a mistake!!! The power of the album must be unleashed gradually with repeated listens for short amounts of time (to prevent cranial disintegration), at which point their heavy style of thrash and melodicity come through with a brilliance that still doesn't cease to amaze me. With heavy guitars tuned to B, they grind your face off while still maintaining impressive clarity and precision. The riffs are all skillfully crafted and structured to leave the listener craving more technical torture, while blistering melodic solos relieve the tension. And at the heart of it all is the blistering and painfully fast blast beats of drummer Flo Mounier (who also contributes his terrifying screams), which at times could be argued as a drum machine (which would have a difficult time itself rivaling Flo's speed). DiSalvo's vocals are well-placed in the mix, although I feel he has to much of a "barking" quality I don't like too much (but have gotten used to), and the lyrics are also quite good. Seeing them two nights in a row last week surpassed all of my highest expectations, they were flawless and faster than I could have ever imagined. I would argue this second or third of the best albums of the year for me (behind Opeth), but they definitely take some getting used to. The ears aren't so keen at first on their sonic assault, but this is an album I feel sets the standard in modern metal brutality. Buy it and see.
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