Cryptobeast

Cryptobeast

Track Listings

1. Bones of My Enemies

2. Supernatural Killing Spree

3. Kill for Metal

4. Conquest of the Grotesque

5. Ectoplasm [Instrumental]

6. Return of the Werewolf

7. Reptilian

8. Cryptobeast

9. Wrath of God

10. Warriors of Iron & Rust (Battalions of the New Millennium)

Cryptobeast,Usurper,Earache Records,Death Metal/Black Metal,Heavy Metal,Pop,Rock

Average customer rating:

an entirely different beast

"Usurper casts the decibel spell"

Solid death metal, yet not essential.

Kill for Metal!!!

Cryptobeast
Usurper
Manufacturer: Earache Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Twilight Dominion

Necronemesis

The Lair of the White Worm

Swarm!

ASIN: B0007D4M72
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Tracks:

Bones of My Enemies
Supernatural Killing Spree
Kill for Metal
Conquest of the Grotesque
Ectoplasm [Instrumental]
Return of the Werewolf
Reptilian
Cryptobeast
Wrath of God
Warriors of Iron & Rust (Battalions of the New Millennium)

Customer Reviews:

an entirely different beast.......2007-05-15

Usurper is definitely cool. they incorporate many different elements in their music. they are definitely hard to pigeonhole. I feel that it is death mixed with thrash with a slight touch of doom. this band is destined to grow big in the underground.

"Usurper casts the decibel spell".......2006-10-16

During the course of this album I couldn't help but feel a "been-there-done-that" vibe throughout. Blast-beats abound, double-bass drumming, speedy riffing...etc. "The Bones of My Enemies" explodes with fury to begin the proceedings but those even slightly acquainted with Metal will more than likely shrug off the track as merely passable. "Supernatural Killing Spree" ups the ante even further with a Death Metal aggression that is surprising considering all the groove-metal riffing present on their previous release, "Twilight Dominion." "Ectoplasm" is a rather odd addition to the proceedings as a ballad-like instrumental that serves as a place to catch your breath before "Return of the Werewolf" blasts form the speakers and kicks the listener in the face. The only stand-out track for me was "Kill for Metal" which sounds more or less like a track left off "Twilight Dominion." Anyone expecting more of the same groove-riffing from Usurper on this release will either be pleased or disappointed depending on their tastes. The main difference on "Cryptobeast" from "Twilight Dominion" is a predominant acceleration of tempo, yet this speed seems at odds with the fairly cheesy lyrical content. With titles like "Return of the Werewolf", "Reptilian", and "Warriors of Iron n Rust" the lyrical content is anything but dark, which makes the contrast of Death Metal riffing/snarling all the more hard to swallow. On "Twilight Dominion" the tempos were much more groove-oriented and therefore the songcraft became more fun to hear as a result. The grooves that are present on "Cryptobeast" often sound too similar to those found on "Twilight Dominion." "Cryptobeast" is by no means a bad album, but there is little here that makes me stand up and shout or even play some air-guitar in a fit of appreciation. I like the energy the band brings to the table on this release, but as far as the songwriting is concerned, this album is a step backwards for Usurper. I have many other albums in my Metal collection that make "Cryptobeast" sound mediocre by comparison. For first-time buyers I would recommend picking up "Twilight Dominion" and about a hundred other Metal albums long before buying "Cryptobeast."

Solid death metal, yet not essential........2006-05-21

Having had minimal exposure to Usurper before this album, I didn't really know what to expect. I'm sure I heard a few tracks off "Twilight Dominion" last year but I can't recall much about it, which didn't give me huge expectations for "Cryptobeast".

As soon as you press play, it becomes blatantly obvious what these guys are all about. This is death metal with an emphasis on metal. These guys very obviously live and breath metal. The album cover and title are metal, the band photos are metal, the lyrics are metal and the whole feeling and structure of "Cryptobeast" is pure metal.

If I had to make a band comparison (and I do since I'm reviewing the album), I would say Vader, but Usurper are not quite as heavy as the Polish masters and a fair bit thrashier as well. But if you're into Vader, there's a fair chance you'll find something to like here too.
Before I tell you what I don't like about the album, I should point out that this is a very solid release. The guys are very capable players, the sound is really great and there are some truly excellent moments ("Conquest of the Grotesque" and "Return of the Werewolf" in particular). It's simply very well played death metal the way I like it. So why don't I rate it highly? For starters, it's just not original in any way, shape or form. I've heard all this stuff before and there really isn't anything to make Usurper stand out from the pack. There are also some cringe-worthy moments such as "Kill For Metal" (lyrics such as "kill, kill, kill, kill, kill ,kill, kill for metal" just don't do it for me anymore) that drop this down a couple of notches.

If you prefer your metal with no bells or whistles, and don't mind corny lyrics and imagery, then "Cryptobeast" is an excellent purchase. Personally, I hear so many albums that it's hard for me to get excited about something like this. It's certainly good, but by no means essential.

.......2005-09-06

I remember writing off this band in the beginning as a Celtic Frost rip-off. Well, it's obvious that as the years went by they have managed to identify themselves with a sound that, while not entirely their own, can be easily recognizable as theirs. Some excellent tracks can be found here, from the totally chorus-driven, fist raising "Kill for Metal", to more abstract, double bass dominated solid numbers like "Return of the werewolf". Usurper plays metal from the heart. It has a strong `80s foundation, and their love for this form of music is obvious. In case you're not familiar, they mix old-school death metal with some thrash and black metal influences. It is a style I find immensely enjoyable, and if you love metal there's no reason why you shouldn't dig this.

Kill for Metal!!!.......2005-08-06

In these times when so much of Metal is diluted and tainted by outside influences, it is refreshing to find a Metal band playing Metal influenced by Metal, the whole Metal and nothing but the Metal. All you Emo/Folk/Prog/'Core/next-lame-bastardisation-of-Metal lovers can get lost. Your music isn't Metal. Usurper knows what Metal is, and anyone who argues is looking for a clip round the ear with a big spiky club

Usurper's `Cryptobeast' is unashamedly filled to the eyeballs with Metal cliche after Metal cliche. But hey, a cliche is only a bad thing if you're no good at it. You will never forget the names of these songs, because all the titles are chanted in the chorus except obviously the instrumental "Ectoplasm". The lyrics are all about mythical beasts (nasty ones like werewolves mind you, there's no unicorns or fairies here) and the supernatural. There's even a Metallic call to arms called "Kill For Metal", for which Manowar would gladly trade two golden codpieces, an enchanted warhammer of doom, and a free pass to Valhalla.

First and foremost though, before anyone gets carried away with the spikes, studs, leather and long hair, Usurper are consummate musicians. To a man, each is a master of his craft, and there are no weaknesses anywhere in this band. Their sound is gut-wrenchingly heavy and muscular, while surprisingly agile, but without compromise. New vocalist Tyrantor has a guttural shout which strays toward a Death grunt at times, but generally remains in the realms of aggressive Thrash.

It would be wrong to label this album retro-Thrash, as it has been in some quarters. If Thrash had kept evolving in the early 1990s instead of limply surrendering to the mainstream, this is what it would sound like. Imagine a world where Metallica's self-titled album did not exist, where Dave Mustaine had remained permanently messed up on heroin, where Sepultura had decided tribal music was crap, where Exhorder didn't get ripped off and watered down by Pantera. This is Usurper's world. This is a world where fists can be raised high (complete with compulsory studded leather wristbands) while chanting "Kill, kill, kill/Kill kill kill/For Metal" without any trace of embarrassment or irony.

The other obvious highlight besides `Kill For Metal' is `Return Of The Werewolf', complete with a roared chorus, solos (not too overindulgent) exactly where they should be, and machinegun blast percussion. `Conquest Of The Grotesque' and the title track also follow a very similar formula, but without becoming formulaic. There is little which is subtle about this album, apart from the atmospheric `Ectoplasm', but who needs subtlety when there's mindless violence?

If you're looking for something groundbreaking, try something by Dream Theater, if you think you can stay awake. For bludgeoning Metal which recalls the good old days, but without being stuck in a time warp, you'll find none better than Usurper.

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