» 3 out of 5 Evil Faces
The self styled Rocky Mountain Hydro Grinders Cephalic Carnage return with a brand new CD entitled Xenosapien.
I first found this band when they released their second CD, Exploiting Dysfunction. In fact this was the first CD I purchased that was released after the 1900’s. Seems weird to say that now, but at the time it was kinda a big deal to me.
Anyway it was a great CD. I liked it. So I bought the Halls Of Amenti single when it came out and that is also a good CD that looked unique, but alas it was only one song (at least it was long one). After that I kinda lost interest in Cephalic or at least stopped paying attention to them for whatever reason.
As a result the next 3 releases they put out, I have never heard. I think they did a split release with Anal Blast and then released 2 more full lengths via Relapse.
Anayway Xenosapien has founds it’s way into my CD library so I gave it a listen and it ain’t bad. It is not my favorite CD. Though it seems to incorporate alot of what I remember liking about them.
They have an unusual approach to metal as opposed to other bands. They do not stick to one style. They mix several genres into each release and sometimes one song will encompass varying styles.
I categorized this review as grind metal as that is the most prominent so I figure it’s the most appropriate genre to classify them under. Though while listening to Xenosapien I hear death, doom, grind, hardcore, black metal and some jazz too.
The trouble I have with it is it never gets a good groove going it is very sporadic and a little noisy at times. I find myself playing air guitar and banging my head only at a few places throughout this CD.
