Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Cryptopsy
Label: Century Media
Release: 2008
Canadian technical death metal monster Cryptopsy was once considered one of the biggest names in the genre. The albums Blasphemy Made Flesh (1994) and None So Vile (1996) are still regarded as cult classics of technical death metal, records that opened the door for other progressive/technical bands from Canada: Martyr, Quo Vadis, Neuraxis and more. But why does the first sentence say “once”? Because with their new album, The Unspoken King, Cryptopsy have put out, without a doubt, by far the worst release of their career.
After the last record, Once Was Not, the charismatic vocalist Lord Worm left the band (yet again), and the band’s two bosses, Alex Auburn (guitar) and Flo Mounier (drums), faced the tough job of filling the hole his second exit left behind. An evolution in the band’s sound is certainly more than welcome, but with The Unspoken King, Cryptopsy flat-out missed the mark. The roots of technical death metal are buried and forgotten, and the Canadian giants have swerved into a modern deathcore sound. Yeah, The Unspoken King is a record unworthy of the Cryptopsy name. A new direction usually calls for new members, so this record marks the debut of new vocalist Matt McGachy and keyboardist Maggy Duran (who has already left the band). And what exactly is so bad about The Unspoken King? Pretty much everything! You’ll look in vain for the typical dirty, heavy guitar riffs that became Auburn’s trademark, because they’ve been swapped out for generic metalcore “chugga chugga” chords and miserable core breakdowns. Still, you could almost overlook the guitars, since every now and then they come up with an interesting riff or a solo or two. The most blasphemous part of the new record is McGachy’s horrendous vocals: your classic wanna-be-brutal-at-all-costs deathcore vocals, a heap of unintelligible screaming and pointless growling. Totally soulless and pseudo-brutal to boot, McGachy also loves to show off his emo side with dreadful, sappy clean singing. The awful lyrics add the final brick to what is one of the worst records in recent memory. The only thing on this album that’s truly listenable is Mournie’s excellent drumming (he’s not one of the biggest names in extreme metal for nothing), but even that gets lost in the mess of the new Cryptopsy.
A band’s evolution is, once again, necessary and hugely important for survival and growth. But only if it’s evolution in the right direction, meaning a better one. With The Unspoken King, Cryptopsy went backwards rather than forwards, and even if deathcore was where they wanted to go, there are countless better bands in that genre. The Unspoken King can therefore almost certainly earn the title of worst death metal album of the year, and definitely the title of disappointment of the year.
Lineup
Matt McGachy – vocals
Alex Auburn – guitar, backing vocals
Éric Langlois – bass
Flo Mounier – drums, backing vocals
Christian Donaldson – guitar
Maggie Durand – keyboards
Tracklist
1. Worship Your Demons 02:12
2. The Headsmen 05:14
3. Silence the Tyrants 04:09
4. Bemoan the Martyr 04:10
5. Leach 04:48
6. The Plagued 04:09
7. Resurgence of an Empire 04:40
8. Anoint the Dead 03:19
9. Contemplate Regicide 05:29
10. Bound Dead 06:26
11. (Exit) the Few 02:31
