Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Cryogen - Premonition - 2005 - Self Released

Track Listing1. 1. Awakening 2. Forever Broken 3. Premonition 4. Cycle of Mind 5. No Choice 6. Withered 7. War Crime 8. Shadows Within 9. Behind the Fall 10. Corrupt Vision

How has this band gone unsigned? Who in the "suit and tie" market hasn't stepped and signed this band to a deal? Vader can get a contract. Decapitated can get a few records bought. Even Crowbar manages to get deal after deal. Come on "professionals", let's get busy and pick up the next big thing, Colorado's Cryogen, who have just independently released their debut album "Premonition". Those of you who enjoy the European approach to genre defining death metal should find yourselves ecstatic over this solid effort.

"Premonition" reminds me of the pioneer days of Scandinavian acts like Grave, Dismember, and Edge Of Sanity, while still moving slightly ahead to pick up on the early riffs of Arch Enemy and even Denmark's Mercenary. The band's entire sound is built around catchy, well structured riffs, whether it be one main riff or a series of melody based hooks. The group isn't that quick, instead relying on the headbanging approach, almost picking up the thrash vibe of constantly moving forward, plodding forth with one main angle or dimension. This works perfectly for this listener, really a welcome change from the extreme acts who just work all over the place, never quite establishing a rhythm or groove.

It turns out Cryogen are a fairly young group with the band established in the early part of 2004. At the time Forever Broken members Ryan Conner, Matt Lyon, and Matt Benson teamed up with Brian Sawyer. Conner and Lyon offered their engineering skills to the group's demo recordings at Mind Cycle Studios. In February 2005 the band gave birth to this effective and eye opening debut, one that should land the band a solid record deal in the next few months.

Again, those of you looking for a slightly more streamlined death metal approach should appreciate this release. It has tons of stellar drum work, intricate harmony and melodic structures, as well as a groove based approach at song patterns and ideals. Vocalist Ryan Conner really sticks to the early roots of the genre, with a sort of raspy, spoken growl that is easily understood. With the material found here it is easy to become "hooked", with so many cuts here producing mammoth, addictive riffs that are just....well....simply entertaining. This is an album that is fun to listen to, an enjoyable metal experience, a rare treat that most band's seem to dismiss in a quest for more violent, sadistic, and brutal paths of destruction.

Favorite Cuts - "No Choice", "Premonition", and "War Crime".

Have a listen yourself: http://www.cryogenband.com/media/audio/Cryogen%20-%20Premonition%20-%2003%20-%20Premonition.mp3




--EC 12.01..05



Album cover: http://cdbaby.com/covers/c/r/cryogen.jpg
Band Link: www.cryogenband.com
Label link: n/a