Cryptosis | Celestial Death | Century Media Records

With “Celestial Death”, Dutch trio Cryptosis attempts the next evolutionary leap from their acclaimed 2021 debut, “Bionic Swarm”. Once again threading the needle between progressive thrash metal, cinematic sound design, and sci-fi futurism, this sophomore effort is technically impressive, richly textured, and brimming with ambition. Clocking in at just over 42 minutes, “Celestial Death” is a sleek, cybernetically enhanced construct—yet for all its sonic sophistication, it doesn’t always fire on every cylinder emotionally or compositionally.

Mixed by Fredrik Folkare (Unleashed, Necrophobic) and mastered by Tony Lindgren (Amorphis, Borknagar), this album benefits from an excellent production balance: dense but never claustrophobic, dynamic yet controlled. The striking artwork by Eliran Kantor is a visual embodiment of the sound—futuristic dread and cosmic awe.

The trio remains technically formidable. Laurens Houvast's guitar work is razor-sharp, his vocals expressive though at times monotonous. Frank te Riet’s bass and synths bring both gravity and atmosphere, and Marco Prij's drumming is a constant engine of shifting rhythms and tempos. The band’s use of spoken word, Mellotron, and cinematic interludes underlines their ambition—but also raises the bar for consistency and emotional payoff.

Stylistically, “Celestial Death” sits at the intersection of progressive thrash, industrial sci-fi soundtracks, and modern technical metal. Think Vektor meets Voivod, spliced with a touch of Obliveon and Control Denied. However, unlike the sharply unified concept of “Bionic Swarm”, this follow-up is broader in scope but occasionally less cohesive in its emotional and thematic arc.

Strengths:

• Impeccable production and mixing/mastering balance.

• Cohesive aesthetic and technical consistency.

• Highlights like “Static Horizon” and “Reign Of Infinite” show meaningful growth.

Weaknesses:

• Occasional lack of emotional resonance or risk.

• Interludes and transitions feel more like obligatory chapter markers than integral parts. Vocals, while solid, rarely evolve in tone or approach.

“Celestial Death” is a meticulously crafted, highly professional sci-fi metal album that builds on Cryptosis' strengths while dipping into new emotional territory. It’s darker and more cinematic than “Bionic Swarm”, but at times sacrifices momentum and immediacy for the sake of complexity and atmosphere. For listeners who favor intricately structured, thematically unified metal with a futuristic lens, this will be a compelling experience. Still, “Celestial Death” stops just shy of true greatness, held back by a few emotionally sterile moments and a lack of daring risks in its songwriting.

Score: 7.5/10