Reviewed by Ian Webber

From previous releases by this Nashville-based duo, it has been clear that Cryptic Rising produce a brand of hard music that pushes at the extremes. With this six track EP they have moved from an ambient, doom-laden sound to one that is more influenced by an industrial, abrasive style. Opening with an electronic rumble and haunting chimes of guitar chords, "Death Threat" includes a range of metallic samples along with an outro that reminds me of sitting in the dentist's chair. A drill-like sound whines in the background of some unforgiving guitar work. The most striking element of the music however, is the confrontational vocal delivery that growls and rumbles in tortured fashion. Finding a transcription of the lyrics is difficult, making understanding nearly impossible, but whilst the sense of the words is a mystery, Matthew Plunkett brings a rhythmical element in his screams and grunts that adds to the overall musical performance. The cavernous drums of "Worthless" set up the most powerful and engaging track on this recording with its feedback and tube screamer guitar creating an expansive and intriguing mix. With the 11 minutes of music passing quickly, it is not long before the EP is closed out by the more brooding and less frenetic "Sorrow Awaits". On this track you pick up on how good the recording is. Crisp instrumentation is joined by added scratches and pops that give this grimy, extreme set an authentic edge. Originally released in 2016 as an independent recording, it has now been picked up by SkyBurnsBlack Records and can be found on their Bandcamp page. Although short, the material on offer does make you sit up and listen. It would be interesting to see if a longer release could provide enough variety to hold the attention and engage the listener.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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