By: Charlie Butler
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 02/09/2015
Label: Moment of Collapse
Cranial forge epic journeys that marry the weighty post metal of
early Pelican to the hefty crunch of Mastodon’s “Remission” with captivating
results. Bursts of soaring post-rock are employed to provide contrast to the
onslaught of chugging armageddon. “Dead Ends” ably demonstrates why Cranial is the
perfect name for this band. This is brainy music - intelligently constructed
yet skull-crushingly heavy.
“Dead End” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1).
Nightbringer
2).
Limes
The Review
Würzberg
quartet, Cranial have risen from the ashes of
instrumental heavyweights Omega Massif. Anyone
who misses that band will find ample solace in “Dead Ends”.
Here
are only two tracks to savour on this impressive debut release but these
lengthy compositions pack in more twists and turns than most LPs. Cranial forge epic journeys that marry the weighty post
metal of early Pelican to the hefty crunch of Mastodon’s “Remission”
with captivating results. The band navigate shifts in tempo and volume with
ease and manage to avoid the pitfalls of obvious build and release dynamics.
Bursts of soaring post-rock are employed to provide contrast to the onslaught
of chugging armageddon. The delayed lead guitar rising from the smoking pit of
distortion in the middle of “Nightbringer”
heightens the emotional impact without feeling cheesy or unnecessary.
Cranial mostly let the riffs do the talking
but sparingly deploy vocals to powerful effect. Huge reverb-drenched roars
occasionally emerge from the wall of noise to heighten the drama, lending an
air of black metal to proceedings. This is particularly effective during the
cacophonous climax of “Limes”.as the
heavily effected vocals blur the boundary between voice and instruments.
“Dead Ends” ably demonstrates why Cranial is the perfect name for this band. This is brainy music
- intelligently constructed yet skull-crushingly heavy.
“Dead Ends” is available here
Band info: facebook
