Audio By Carbonatix
Believe it or don’t, a decade has passed since Fortuitous Oddity, Cephalic Carnage’s self-released debut, first assaulted eardrums in these parts. Since then, the fearsome five have established themselves internationally as extreme-metal madmen par excellence, and Xenosapien will only enhance that reputation. The eleven songs here constitute a jolt of aural anarchy, served straight up.
Lenzig Leal’s vocals haven’t softened over time; they still vacillate between guttural roars and crazed shrieks. Yet the band as a whole has broadened its style without diluting the intensity. “Divination & Volition” features thrillingly virtuosic guitar jousts between Zac Joe and Steve Goldberg, while “The Omega Point” twins visceral riffs with what sounds like a Stephen Hawking sample. Other cuts pit assorted elements against each other cage-match style, including a relentless combination of hardcore, art rock and assorted stonerisms dubbed “Touched by an Angel” — although “Pummeled by an Angel” would be a more appropriate title.
Thank you, sir. May I have another?
When news happens, Westword is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $50,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community. If Westword matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
