Epic Rites (9 Epic Tales & Death Rites)

(Review originally appeared in Gnosis Webzine in 2000)


This is the perfect metal album, in my opinion. Intricate without being overcomplicated, melodic without compromising aggression or heaviness; Epic Rites is a masterpiece marred only by a thin production. Each song is an epic expression of ancient sorrow and fury.

This band has shifted stylistically from each album. The earliest stuff was brutal and primitive, plodding doom death, and later stuff showcases Cenotaph evolving into something a lot more technical, but just as emotional as they were on the early material.

With each album, the band has progressed as the musicians have mastered their instruments. Epic Rites era Cenotaph was a band that can stand toe to toe with the elite of the tech metal bands, yet bring a genuine conviction and raw emotion that most technical bands simply don’t have.

Sweep picked arpeggios are intertwined with driving aggressive riffs, masterful, thundering drumming, and slippery, serpentine basslines, totally immersing the listener in a swirling maelstrom of sound. Monk-like chants over a backdrop of acoustic guitars creates an antediluvian atmosphere. However, the vocals are probably the most expressive instrument in Cenotaph’s fearsome arsenal. They are at times feral, like a wounded animal backed against a wall. Other times they are all too human, expressing anguish that only the heart of a man could know…

Due to the heavy amount of melody Cenotaph utilize, people often compare them to the Gothenburg bands. For the most part, I find this comparison unfounded. I think the reason people say this is because they have no other point of reference to pin on Cenotaph, because their music is very unique. It is nearly impossible to pin down, because it has been many different things- progressive, technical, traditional, oppressive, and emotional. Not one singular word can be used to put cenotaph in an easy-to-digest little category. That is where their magic lies…