In recent years I’ve grown to appreciate Technical Death Metal and the more Sci-fi infused sorts of Metal bands in general. I grew to enjoy the likes of Nucleus, Vektor and even Voivod whom I personally never saw any appeal in until I got the chance to see them live with Necrophagia. It’s quite odd really because outside of music I’m a big fan of Sci-fi, Star Wars being my favourite film franchise for example. However, I think I was far too caught up in the brutality of Death Metal and the crushing riffs of Thrash to care that much about any sort of extra subject matter. I think that Prog has equally played quite the part in my indulging into various different Sci-fi type ideas and sounds, all in all I’m ready for anything.

Today’s subjects are Cryptic Shift from Leeds, here in the UK. The band formed only recently in 2015 and have been very busy pumping out various releases since. However now the time has come for the band’s debut full length record Visitations From Enceladus. The album is put out through Blood Harvest and promises a different turn for this Technical Progressive Death Metal act. Finally, the band are given their own platform to really play with new ideas. Indeed, looking at the track list I was intrigued to hear more. At only four tracks and a run time of over forty-five minutes I knew this would be my sort of release. Having listened to much Prog in recent days too I was prepared for the delightful format of a massive opening track, this is what I found inside.

A mysterious and haunting ambience befittingly opens Moonbelt Immolator, as it fades into the endless void a desolate metallic riff appears in the cosmos, full of Thrash and Death influence. Soon enough things start to come into focus as the drums are trickled into the mix in a very Tech almost Jazz sense. Following this is further ambience, to some disjointed perhaps, but none the less building tension in this huge twenty five-minute composition. Finally, the vocals become apparent as everything comes to a head. The vocals themselves are very Death Metal driven, guttural and yet modern. In a sense this track could be summed up as a true epic, one in which I feel the band very much do justice. The song comes to a section of great melody and ethereal beauty with delicate riffs and drumming that are both jam band-like and at the same time executed with pin point precision. The track ramps up again however into further Death infused armageddon, this is a sure fire hit for any fans of Progressive Death Metal, personally my mind is completely blown by this song, best of the year? Continuing the trend of all out Technical Death Metal wizardry is (Petrified In The) Hypogean Gaol, another all-out attack of maniacal riffs and cult Death Metal carnage.

Thankfully all is not lost in The Arctic Chasm either, another blistering Technical example of the incredible song writing that this band has to offer. I would like to say that this brand of Death Metal is clearly not for everyone as it can at times appear sporadic, messy and insane. Yet I would plead for any fans of Death Metal to give this album a chance as I feel it will really open the listeners ears to a whole new experience in Extreme Metal, personally I love it. The album comes to a final climax with Planetary Hypnosis, further madness ensues, the bass in particular shines with chaotic beauty and that lustful clean tone of Tech Death Metal of old. It’s nothing new or different for the band but it is at least a further feather in their cap, and truly with such a stunning epic in Moonbelt Immolator anything else on this album is simply a bonus.

I love it when you find a new band that you just get instantly, such is the case for me and Cryptic Shift. Visitations From Enceladus is truly something else. I love the format of the album with the big opener and further shorter (although still pretty long) tracks. It reminds me in some twisted way of Yes and such albums as Close To The Edge or Relayer, but with a massive slab of Death Metal chucked at it. I also really appreciate the fact that this album hasn’t fallen into the more ‘trendy’ category of more recent Tech Death. I’m a big fan of the likes of Equipoise, Inferi, Inanimate Existence, Archspire and so forth but much of it is tainted by trend. Cryptic Shift clearly don’t care a jot about all that. This is real and pure Tech Death with lashings of Prog on top. Quite simply I am stunned, if this album doesn’t shake the Death Metal world then I’ll be shocked, just the sort of album we all need in these troubled times.

(10/10 George Caley)

https://www.facebook.com/crypticshift

https://cryptic-shift.bandcamp.com/album/visitations-from-enceladus