Just a year after releasing their last EP, electro-rockers Cryogenica have completed their new album: ‘re-animation’. The Anglo-Swedish duo combine dark industrial rhythms with hypnotic vocals and heavy rock undertones in an potent mix of industrial, goth and electro. The band, who formerly performed as ‘I Am No One’ cite inspiration as diverse as Nine Inch Nails, Rammstein and Depeche Mode. In ‘re-animation’ their influences combine to create a truly unique sound.
The first track, ‘Bruised And Broken’, starts the album with a bang. Aggressive electronic beats and distorted guitar riffs provide the perfect background for lead singer Carina’s distinctive and powerful voice. ‘Topaz’ is easily the most accessible track of the album. A powerful industrial beat gives way to melodic vocals and a surprisingly catchy chorus, creating a track begging for live performance. Carina’s voice is doubled at the end to create beautiful harmonies which fade out to complete silence before the ethereal synth intro to ‘Dream’ builds back up to the energy seen at the beginning of the album. During the atmospheric introduction of the next track, ‘Happily Ever After’, Carina talks in her native Swedish over haunting synth backing. ‘Ruby Red Sky’ continues the slowed pace before ‘Down With Me’ brings back the driving beats and metal instrumentation of earlier tracks with full force.
In the most chilling track of the album, ‘R.I.P’ (a cover of Gary Numan‘s now classic industrial floor-filler), the duo combine their voices, with programmer and guitarist Jon whispering over Carina’s floating vocals. The melancholy feel continues as ‘World’ and ‘The Picture’ make use of piano solos, string texture and slow pounding rhythms. ‘Hope’ deepens the mood, looping samples of rain and thunder and ditching distortion in favour of acoustic guitar to make its title feel more than a little ironic. Despite the questionable name, it is a stunning song. Carina’s vocals are utterly haunting and for nearly five minutes there is not a dull moment as Cryogenica show off their impressive command of electronic textures and techniques. The album ends with two bonus tracks taken from their previous album ‘I Have No Name’. In ‘Dystert & Kalt’, which roughly translates as ‘Sad & Cold’, Cryogenica’s industrial metal roots emerge as Swedish vocals soar over mechanical sound bites, pounding drums and distorted guitar riffs. The final track of the album, ‘Noise’, is almost pure electro-rock, offering a glimpse of the band’s earlier, less experimental sound.
In ‘re-animation’, Cryogenica have created an album that defies definition. Their personal brand of electro-rock draws on a plethora of genres. Gothic tendencies live in controversial and sometimes morbid lyrics, such as the whispered, ‘He ripped the skin from God’s face’ in ‘R.I.P’. Industrial beats and samples dominate many tracks, while the instrumentation shows a leaning towards heavy rock and metal. It is this variation and fluidity that makes their album stand out. Cryogenica’s epic soundscapes, powerful rhythms and poignant vocals offer something for every rock, electro or industrial fan to enjoy.
