Cryptopsy - Cryptopsy

Cryptopsy, once one of the dominating forces in death metal. Ultra technical, jazz laden, chaotic assaults that no other band could replicate. Even with the seemingly revolving door of members (including 4 vocalists) the band was able to keep their focus and dominate the technical death metal world until they decided to release The Unspoken King. Mocked by, what appears to be, everyone the band had catapulted itself to the back of the line. Trailblazers that had paved the way for many shot themselves to the bottom of the pile with an album that was uninspiring and a clear sign of conformity to modern trends. The Unspoken King obliterated the aura the band had worked so hard to earn and the rebuttal to the critics in the form of the song “It’s Dinner Time” single-handedly killed the bands credibility completely.

It’s been 4 years since that embarrassment of a record came out and Cryptopsy is a band that is now nearly never talked about. Now it seems that Cryptopsy has finally accepted their fate and are going to try to start from scratch. 18 years since Blasphemy Made Flesh was released, the band has decided to return to their roots…or at least as much as they can. With the exception of vocalist Matt McGachy, who sounds like a poor man’s Sven (Aborted), almost all of their short lived deathcore days are behind them. Returning to the band and bringing back the signature sound is long time guitarist and the brains behind the operation, Jon Levasseur. With Levasseur’s return comes back the odd time signatures and jazz heavy riffs; the elements that defined Cryptopsy.

Even though there are still a lot of good done with this record, I can’t help but feel that this album is ultimately going to get lost in the shuffle. My initial run through of the record didn’t leave me with any real impression other than “well at least it sounds like Cryptopsy”. There wasn’t a single standout track that I could pick out. The album flowed from song to song nicely and I didn’t feel the need to skip a track but pay me a million dollars to remember a part and I’m out a million dollars. With the negative stigma or the fact that they have fallen off the radar in the last few years, I can see this album is going to take a few listens to appreciate, that’s even if I get that far.

In the end, I will say it’s worth a listen. Cryptopsy had enough good records and influence on the genre that they deserve at least one chance at redemption. The problem is going to come with how far down the crapper they have made it with the listener. Going back to their roots and essentially starting over is a great idea. Hell, this album is even being self released (at least based on the information I could find). I think it’s too late now for the band to ever reclaim their once held status but this record, how unforgettable it might end up turning out to be, might be the perfect foundation to build on to at least become respectable again.

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