Band: CypherSeer
Title: Origins
Label: Nightmare Records
Distribution: Nightmare Records
Release date: April 12th 2011 (North-America) / May 6th 2011 (Europe)
Review: CD

CypherSeer, from the north-eastern part of the US and formed as Malakis Reign, debuted with Awakening Day, an album that got reviewed very positively by the international press – or at least by many reviewers all over. I guess it has rather to do with the mix of the album, done by Fredrik Nordström (Dreamshade, Old Man’s Child, Samael, Dimmu Borgir, Devian and many, many others) instead of qualities that exceed the average. This sophomore album had been recorded by Mister Nordström too, again creating a decent and very heavy, powerful and polished sound.
Those who know this band’s debut album, Awakening Day, will know what follows, because Origins has been written and performed in the same vein. The only audible difference might be: Origins seems to be more aggressive?... Another difference is the new line-up (including a new singer, Zeno Rodrigo).
The band brings a fast and rhythmic form of melodic yet aggressive (modern) Metal, uniting elements from Heavy and Thrash Metal with melodious passages, atmospheric keyboards, a varied offer of vocals, hints of Death Metal, Power Metal and Symphonic Metal, and a concentration on technical precision and catchy rhythms. And even though this band hails from the New Jersey / New York-era, the emphasis is Swedish. CypherSeer must be one of the most Swedish-sounding bands from North America - two causes: the song writing and, again, the influence of Fredrik Nordström.
The average duration of the tracks is rather long (the eleven compositions last for sixty five minutes), yet the (semi-long) length of these pieces won’t necessarily bother. Some might dislike the clean vocals, which are indeed somewhat painful for one’s ears, or the quasi high-pitched screaming growls; some might be allergic as well for the very safe approach – despite the few experiments and the technical performance, I detest the lack of breaking out of the protective borders. Yet again, the performance is cohesive and the neat totality will please any fan of, let’s say, a decent mélange of Soilwork, In Flames (Clayman), Evergrey (Recreation Day),  Iced Earth or Mercenary (as from the Century Media-releases on).

70/100

Ivan Tibos.