Saturday, September 22, 2012

Biomechanical - Cannabalised

Heavy Progressive
Earache

2008






1. Fallen in Fear
2. The Unseen
3. Cannibalised
4. Breathing Silence
5. Predatory
6. Slow the Poison
7. Consumed
8. Reborn in Damnation
9. Through Hatred Arise
10. Violent Descent

Biomechanical are definitely an interesting inclusion on the Earache roster and within the realm of progressive metal. Along with bands like Outworld and Communic I'd say Biomechanical are trying to redefine exactly what the term progressive metal means. This is not another Dream Theater clone by one hell of a long shot. Pussy prog beware as this band seeks to rip your face off with riff and screaming madness.

While the last album from Biomechanical seemed notably less progressive and more pantera-esque groove oriented, this album once again takes another spin on the Biomechanical sound of it's own. That direction is basically pushing the speed and wailing vocals up to 11 as Cannibalised is an unrelenting assault. In a way it's a step back toward the sound of the first album, but not as varied vocally and not as heavy on the synth weirdness. What this album seems to focus on is sheer wild aggression. Fallen In Fear is like Judas Priest's Painkiller for the now and The Unseen and Reborn In Damnation are also heavy insanity.

At times however, the album does seem to get lost a bit in it's frenzy of screams and growls which grow a little bit old by the end. While the last one was too much groove, this one seems to lean too heavily on the speed as an album full of this is just a wee bit of an overkill. What I'm really missing is some of those smooth and powerful mid-ranged vocals like the chorus of Do You Know Me from the first album. It's precisely the Range of the band that got me hooked on the first album and the follow ups haven't really gotten down the variation of the first.

A little more balance would be nice here but if you're looking for an all out screamfest with some really fast and heavy riffs than this is by no means a bad release to look to. I'm still waiting for the true follow up to Eight Moons, but this has given me some good headbanging fare in the meantime.

Highlights: Fallen In Fear, The Unseen

Rating - 3.5/5

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