Fourth album from Finns who wouldn't stagnate or compromise. ...And Oceans have always been different in a good sense of the word. With this record it first felt, that now the band have played it safely, but no. Never.

Continuing to develop towards more industrial and electric metal, ...And Oceans have dropped their weirdest things, but still they sound who they are and where they come from. Songs might be sometimes quite simple and short, but maybe the band has broken them into more titles? With simple I mean simple in ...And Oceans clan. Riffs cut deep and chunky and electronics work very well indeed and they don't sound like they were just pasted over other instruments, but guitar solos are absent. The songs are mostly fast and memorable, very much so, but still it took a few spins for me to really get under my skin. But so what, because that's a sign of a great record, one that will stick into my player for a long time. Kenny's (yes, still the same guy who has handled vocals on every album) vocals are varying and theatrical, as you know. 'Cypher' is a theme album, probably about future (?) of mankind and planet earth and all the shit we make to it with all consequences coming fast our way.

Tommy Tägtren has created suitable urban and cold atmosphere with his heavy and modern production. Even though sound is clean, e.g. some guitars simply shred and crunch! Actually, 'Cypher' features one of the best productions I have heard in my life. So good, but still so fitting and right for this record. Part human, part machine, totally devastating! I,m not one to say, whether old or new material from the band is better, but in my humble opinion the new stuff works so bloody well. But there are as many tastes as there are listeners. There's some shit, too: 'Voyage: Lost between Horizons: Eaten by the Distance' has some fucking ugly techno (or something) influences. Yuck! And 'Nail: An Odyssey in Flesh: Celebrate the New Skin' is simply a chaotic and uninteresting barrage of noise.

In general, 'Cypher' is one tight motherfucker when compared to previous albums. There are some drum 'n' bass influences, but the music have been built waterproof, unlike techno experiment on 'A.M.G.O.D.' (2001). Truly brutal and inhuman experience. Try it if Hypocrisy, Samael, Fear Factory, The Kovenant (vocals are somewhat similar), whatever (heh) gets you going!!! Old school freaks should avoid this as plague, however. It is easy to say here, that "buy Finnish"!

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
08/10/2002 11:45