Cephalectomy "The Dream Cycle Mythos" Reviews

Cephalectomy - The Dream Cycle Mythos
Discorporate Music (2008)
8

Since the mid 1990's, Canada's Cephalectomy have been churning out their relentless Sorcery-era Kataklysm inspired death metal. On this stopgap EP The Dream Cycle Mythos the band present their most vicious, technical and varied material to date since Eclipsing the Dawn (2004) and Sign Of Chaos (2000). From jagged frantic riffing, dense and complex song structures to the excessive blasting, the bestial vocal lines and otherworldly lyrical prose everything about this release screams a fixation with Sylvain Houde fronted Kataklysm. On this plus 23 minute single track epic Cephalectomy display more technical finesse, more songwriting prowess and overall originality than most of its contemporaries and possible inspirations. This one track goes through more contrasting sections of melody and brutality, sudden tempo changes, soothing orchestratal sections and interesting dynamics than most bands do on an entire record. Cephalectomy are masters of their craft and this EP should be able introduce them to an international audience. Recorded at the band's own Mystigrind Studios The Dream Cycle Mythos comes with a bone-dusting, pristine production that can easily compete with latest releases of bands such as Behemoth, Vader or Kataklysm. Coming with stunning artwork by Jason Nichols which reminds a bit of Omnium Gatherum's Stuck Here On Snake's Way in composition and execution. The Dream Cycle Mythos can easily compete with any major label backed release out there today. For all intents and purposes, Cephalectomy do this genre with much more gusto and conviction than the originators themselves.

- Wouter Roemers, Masterful Magazine