CYPHER 16

Billed as a melding of metal and electronica music, I was expecting something quite exciting from this. It's a genre I've tried myself with little success, so I appreciate how hard it can be to achieve a balance, without adhering too much to one genre. And, Cypher 16 have pretty much failed in this respect too. But, that doesn't actually bother me. What does, is the singer’s nasal whine (reminiscent of those young upstarts InMe from a few years ago). When he growls things improve considerably, and I wish extreme bands would focus less on aping MetalCore with their shitty emo moans for help, and get on with being agressive fuckers. Anyway, the songs are quite impressive for a bunch of youngsters, and the playing is pretty sharp too. I swear the guitar tone and riff on track three ('Reaper') is straight from Onslaught’s 'In Search of Sanity'. Cool. 'Stains of Time' is the first proper glimpse we get of the electro leanings, and it's an effective intro to an otherwise basic metal track. 'Superdancer', as the name may suggest, is the real sack full of electro/metal toys though, shaken up enough to sound intriguing, but not enough to make it sound a mess. Daft title aside, this is what Cypher 16 need to concentrate on doing to really embrace their desire to be different. Headcrash would be proud.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Constant Evolution Records

EP

THE MAN OF THE BLACK ABYSS

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

21:53

RELEASE DATE:

April 2010

TRACK LISTING

1) Symphony to End it All (III)
2) The Ultimate Paradox
3) Reaper
4) Stains of Time
5) Superdancer
6) ...and the Force (Threw Him Across the Room)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

UK

"Headcrash would be proud."