Cianide – Unhumanized

Band: Cianide
Title: Unhumanized
Label: Hells Headbangers Records
Release date: 13 December 2019
Country: USA
Format reviewed: Digital Promo

Friday the thirteenth of December marked the release date of a long anticipated EP from CIANIDE. Although Fridays are usually the days bands release new things, it was extra whipping on top that it was the thirteenth and after all this time too! The group hasn’t released a full length album since 2011, however a split saw the day of light in 2017 as well as a live album just last year.

Oh what a treat December was!

Having been around since 1988 CIANIDE has a huge career behind them, six full length albums, countless of demos, splits and appearances that have been transferred into live albums, and let me tell you, this group is still kicking it hard while holding strong onto their sound.

“Unhumanized” contains five gritty, dirty, old-school doom metal tracks, each more daunting than the last with lyrics to match the music. The retro sound is present and yet modern enough to give it a clear production. “Serpents Wake” has that well accepted gritty guitar sound that fills out the soundscape nicely; its heavy and semi fast bringing that groovy feeling that makes you want to head bang. It’s exceptionally good when they slow the pace down and the palm-muted guitar riff shakes the foundation.

The simple sound is dominant over all, and “Unhumanized” bring forth an interesting heavy hihat sound throughout the whole track. Given it is more on the doom metal side than the previous track, but you can surely hear the American death metal sound.

Heavy as heavy gets. Sounds as it should. Longing to see them live. All the feelings arise with “Weapons of Curse”. The lyrics are easier to hear than in the previous tracks, and in its simplicity it ends with palm-muted riffing. The punky old school death of “Traitors” is not exactly making its first time appearances on here, but it absolutely states that this band has obviously been working together for so many years. It’s impressive really, to stick to the same members all this time.

“Shadows of the Claw” closes this fascinating EP with its true doomy, pounding drums and a down tuned guitar melody on top. Quite fitting it is as a closer, as this is by far the slowest tune.

There is no showboating here. The members play what they should and let the music speak for itself. I highly respect acts like these, CIANIDE does their thing and are not influenced by the latest trends. Just doing what they do best. 8/10 Julia

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8/10 To Greatness and glory!
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