Embrace the Mutation

Davis, CA's Psypheria plays a variant of melodic progressive death metal with prevalent keyboards. Forming in 1996 from Enthroned (no, not that one, hence a name change), this group displays a high level of technical mastery while concurrently remaining completely accessible.

The character of the band itself not far flung from many old school Swedish death metal groups (Entombed, Dismember…you know, those guys) with its solid guitar tone and rock steady band dynamics. Do to the fact that genesis of the unit dates to the early 1990’s, there are no surprises there. This fact may place the music beyond those who are more inclined to the new school of death metal as the dogma upon which they base their passions upon. The same goes for those who expect pure dirty filthiness from their death metal. For the grandpas of years and spirit however, this is the business.

Comparisons can be made (passive voice!) to a number of groups out there, as there is a fairly large contingent of death metal that places some emphasis on keyboards and their personality as an instrument. One that comes to mind is fan favorite Mithras (the soaring solo towards the end of ‘Taste the Dead’ is a dead ringer for the cosmic solos of the latter!) along with the bizarre (some would argue goofy) trailblazers Nocturnus (who really pushed the use of keys to a new place). While Pypheria’s level of cheese does not reach the level of the champions of cheddar Bal Sagoth (or the awfulness of Darkside), it also is not a scary band to spend the night with. Metal is not all about being scary after all; it’s about playing what you want while keeping true to the past that built the music. The musicians of Psypheria are keeping true to that tradition.

The keyboards are handled with a great level of skill, (the guy behind them, Lyle Livingston, who played in supergroup Dragonlord, is something of a virtuoso) just take a listen and navel gaze at album opener ‘Flesh Must Burn’s’ midsection which has one of the those baroque piano breakdowns that dudes in wigs probably got dirty to back in the day. For those interested in neo-classical influences akin to Yngwie Malmsteen and Jens Johansson 80’s output, here is your local hot date. The daring feats of shredding on the part of frontman Tom Persons (also of Mucus Membrane) and lead player John Oster (who left to play classical music!) are also quite impressive, which leads to a powerful interplay that proves to be quite enjoyable.

Sad to say, but the drum track sounds very drum machine, which is somewhat of a damper. This especially is true when there is nothing else in the mix to pay attention to (see ‘Insensate’). However, due to the frequent flier keys and buffet guitars; the artificially of the drums sinks to the shadows, letting the tracks breath as best they can (even with all the keyboard shenanigans). It’s not the most organic of metal releases, but it also treads far from the canned meat of many brutal death metal productions and transparent tech death recordings. The theme here is that ‘Mutate’ walks a very moderate place of its own choosing, which honestly very much needed in the black and white wide world of metal.

It also seems about time for a new record gentlemen, if you please!

Edited from and Originally Published for Examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com/review/local-metal-beasts-psypheria)

Every so often there comes a band that makes you do a double take and ask "what the fuck did I just hear?" Usually that response comes in time with a removal of the CD/Tape and a chunk out the window or a meeting with Mr. Hammer. However, there are occasionally the album which garner the same response only instead of a scoff and a chunk, it causes a smirk to spread across your face because it's so utterly fucking crazy it grabs you instantly. This album is that way.

Now, it's not exactly crazy in the fast or insane riffing sense. It's more crazy in the sense that it's like Monster Party Metal (if any of you remember that NES game. If you don't, DIE). It's absolutely fucking brilliant. You have the good mid to fast paced death metal with decent riffing and nice leads, as well as pretty damn good drumming and a smashing bass effect that comes over some truly odd and twisted effects on a keyboard (Maybe? It sounds fucking wierder than a keyboard.) but done tastefully and in a way that makes you look to the person next to you and ask "is this real?" This is the kind of album you would have someone you know listen to for the reason that it "is something new". The best I can describe this is like Haunted Mansion/ Monster Party Death Metal.

I highly recommend this album to all Death Metal fans who are looking for something new (and WEIRD).