CEPHALIC CARNAGE — Xenosapien

CEPHALIC CARNAGE

Xenosapien (2007)

Label: Relapse Rec./ Irond Ltd
★★★★ 8.5/10
By Soulside

Track Listing

  1. Endless Cycle of Violence
  2. Divination and Violation
  3. Molting
  4. Touched by An Angel
  5. Vaporized
  6. Heptarchy (In the U.K.)
  7. G.lobal O.Verhaul D.evice
  8. Let Them Hate So Long As They Fear
  9. The Omega Point
  10. Megacosm of the Aquaphobics
  11. Ov Vicissitude
  12. Hidden Track

After the very successful 2005 album Anomalies, the Colorado bugs had to work hard to put out a record that was, if not better, then at least not worse.

But no — these experimenters and originals simply recorded a different album. And there's really nothing more to say. Xenosapien is simply CEPHALIC CARNAGE — you can't confuse this band with anyone else, and from the very first seconds there's a feeling of instant, piercing recognition.

The material is very diverse, ranging from grind madness, which predominates here, to tech death with intricate bass lines and touches of psychedelia. The music is straightforward and aggressive. The album's mood is also uneven — from insane fury, hysteria, and madness to a kind of exhausting depression. The vocal parts play no small role in this, presented here in great variety — clean vocals, hysterical grind screaming, and brutal low growling. In terms of sound, CEPHALIC CARNAGE return to their earlier works, moving away from the experimentation of Anomalies.

Xenosapien deserves attention not only from fans of brutal massacre, but also from anyone seeking something new in extreme metal.