Cryptopsy
The Unspoken King

May 2008
Released: 2008, Century Media
Rating: 0.5/5
Reviewer: Hanntu

If you're a death metal fan worth his salt, you'll have heard all about Cryptopsy. How Lord Worm and Jon Levasseur left. How they were replaced by Christian Donaldson and Matt McGachy. You, like me, would have seen the promo pics featuring their new image and new keyboardist. You, like me, would have fretted about what direction they were going to take. You, like me, would have downloaded the leaked copy of THE UNSPOKEN KING off mininova. And you, like me, would've read all the Metal-Archives reviews. I bet you're reading this review now having done a google search, because you're looking for the one good review of THE UNSPOKEN KING that exists somewhere in cyberspace.



Christ fucking Almighty. It's not possible for a band to make such a volte face, is it? This album is not merely deathcore, it's BAD deathcore. And that makes all the difference. The switch in a musical direction is one thing, the switch to a musical direction that is IMO musically devoid of anything is another thing, but to actually lower the bar in that aforesaid crappy musical direction has to break some sort of record. The Red Chord, Job for a Cowboy, Suicide Silence et al need not be looking over their shoulders fearfully at the mighty Cryptopsy looming up behind them. In fact, these modern deathcore bands should do the decent thing and stop producing music, just so Cryptopsy can shift their gear from Reverse, put it in first, and catch up.



What happened Flo? As a passionate fan who worshipped NONE SO VILE and BLASPHEMY MADE FLESH, what in holy fuck happened? I saw that interview where you implied that all us fans were slating the new album because we hated deathcore, we didn't get it or so you implied. Your exact words were that we were closeminded. Way to shit on your fans. It's of course your prerogative to take the band in whatever direction you want. Good luck with the new fans, us oldies will still have NONE SO VILE. I even bought your frigging Drumming 101 DVD.



I won't repeat all the negative shit that's been said on the MA reviews. For once, I truly agree with the low score posted there. The new vocalist is awful, there's no other way to describe him. The screams are okay, standard deathcore vocals, but the clean emo shit is unbearable. It's truly poke-your-eardrums-out-with-red-hot-rusty-needles awful. The riffs are sad and lacking in anything. Where previous Cryptopsy albums had atmosphere and technicality in equal and lavish doses, this album has neither. The only atmosphere here is impotent weakness, thanks to the pussy vocals. Technicality? It pains me to say that Flo is only average here. But then again he said, rather disparagingly, that he's been down the 300BPM route, been there done that. Fair enough. The riffs, as I said already, are nothing. Keyboardist? Can anyone say 'eye candy', or are my bleeding ears blocking out the wondrous and melodious strains of keys on the album?



I suppose metal fans should be used to this shit: once favourite bands changing their style for fuck knows what reasons. Cryptopsy claim that this is an honest stylistic change. It's a damn coincidence then that deathcore appears to be the new kid on the block getting exposure and publicity. Whatever. This is a heartfelt review from a former Cryptopsy fan. THE UNSPOKEN KING is not Cryptopsy.



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