Not as immediate as I was prepared for a Neurotech album but it delivers with plenty of surprises.
From the first minutes of the acoustic opener it announces itself and all hell breaks loose afterwards. Couple of classic Neurotech tracks in the first half, but the real gems in my opinion is in the second half. From the somber and dark Only Heartbeat, to black metallish Repent in Need, to almost coldwave / industrial Spiraling Down to proggresive Whirlwind with some of the most otherworldy choruses I've ever heard, back to acoustic and serene Inner Quest and to top it off with The Years of the Flood - another classic Neurotech heavy pop juggernaut.
All in all, great theme, some of the best lyrics and vocal performances from Wulf to stellar songwriting with warm and dense production.

I'm a bit more taken with this overall as an album than I was with Solace - partly because of the generally livelier nature of it, but I'm also getting more enjoyment out of the electronics on this record

I wasn't fully on board at the beginning but then I noticed some really cool details and it got a lot more interesting. I think the vocals are a bit bland though and could be better. Songs are diverse and left me interested to give it another spin.

This was great. Neurotech finally got back to its roots and consolidated itself as a better industrial act than Mechina to my taste in this one. After Stigma, both projects were sounding so flat and alike I couldn't enjoy any of them. It's good to see Wulf rising again

This is actually pretty decent and considering it's not a style I'm generally into I found myself quite enjoying this, it helps that the tracks are just the right length to keep me interested. His not gone overly technical on the electronics, with just the right balance of striking melodies, and the songwriting is intriguing, I like the profound lyrics the songs have.

Thought has obviously gone into this, considering how many albums are released in such short time by this band, and I respect that.

Back to 'this is not working again' but whatever, Symphonies II alone was worth reviving the project

Written by MeatWolf on 27.04.2023 at 10:54

Back to 'this is not working again'

this could be considered a compliment coming from someone who rated Mechina - Cenotaph with 9

on the more serious note, after about 50 spins I still find it interesting and enjoyable. It exists but it's so rare to find electronic metal which is not cheesy and doesn't insult your intelligence. Between Sermon, Insomnium and Katatonia, this one is my drug of choice for this year

Written by SamuelYK on 27.04.2023 at 11:55

Written by MeatWolf on 27.04.2023 at 10:54

Back to 'this is not working again'

this could be considered a compliment coming from someone who rated Mechina - Cenotaph with 9

on the more serious note, after about 50 spins I still find it interesting and enjoyable. It exists but it's so rare to find electronic metal which is not cheesy and doesn't insult your intelligence. Between Sermon, Insomnium and Katatonia, this one is my drug of choice for this year

Been following Neurotech since Antagonist, can't get into anything past Infra Versus Ultra, speaking of this particular style. Stigma, In Remission, Catalyst and so on, they all sound featureless and lack coherent melodic substance. Cenotaph however has that, even though being 'more of the same' which I don't mind.

I know my musician days are long gone but I still know what chord and key changes are. So in my opinion calling Cenotaph's "coherent melodic substance" with endless regurgitated legato strings and brass on top of one note riffs is almost laughable.

I have no problem with one note riffs whatsoever, with full Amaranthe disco resting on my shelf, for example. I have problems with absence of hooks, which is the case here.

I've been trying, but I'm not getting into it yet... Since y'all agree that it's a grower I'll give it a couple of spins more...

I really, really like that opener.

Written by MeatWolf on 27.04.2023 at 14:55

Written by SamuelYK on 27.04.2023 at 11:55

Written by MeatWolf on 27.04.2023 at 10:54

Back to 'this is not working again'

this could be considered a compliment coming from someone who rated Mechina - Cenotaph with 9

on the more serious note, after about 50 spins I still find it interesting and enjoyable. It exists but it's so rare to find electronic metal which is not cheesy and doesn't insult your intelligence. Between Sermon, Insomnium and Katatonia, this one is my drug of choice for this year

Been following Neurotech since Antagonist, can't get into anything past Infra Versus Ultra, speaking of this particular style. Stigma, In Remission, Catalyst and so on, they all sound featureless and lack coherent melodic substance. Cenotaph however has that, even though being 'more of the same' which I don't mind.

We must be living in alternate realities, because to my ear, Cenotaph sounds like a complete incoherent mess of tracks that just blend together and lack a single memorable hook. On my first listen to this Neurotech album, at least 3 or 4 tracks immediately stood out.