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Album Review – Cryptosis / Celestial Death (2025)

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Netherland’s own Progressive Thrash Metal beast is back with their sophomore opus, expanding their reign of cerebral terror while drawing a red line between the horrors of the present day and the limitless chaos of the future.

Playing what they like to label as “futuristic multi-metal eruption”, Enschede, Netherlands-based Progressive Thrash Metal beast Cryptosis is back after their critically acclaimed debut Bionic Swarm and their 2023 EP The Silent Call with their sophomore offering, titled Celestial Death, expanding their reign of cerebral terror while maintaining their core policy of making epic music that refuses to be pigeonholed. Once again recorded by Olaf Skoreng at The Moon, mixed by Fredrik Folkare, mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios, and showcasing a classy artwork by the always amazing Eliran Kantor, the new opus by vocalist and guitarist Laurens Houvast, bassist Frank te Riet, and drummer Marco Prij is a more nuanced and complex affair than their debut album, with lyrics that draw a red line between the horrors of the present day and the limitless chaos of the future.

The futuristic intro Prologue – Awakening will transport us to the metallic realm ruled by Cryptosis in Faceless Matter, with Marco already stealing the spotlight with his unparalleled drumming, offering Laurens all he needs to vociferate rabidly for our total delight in a killer display of Progressive and Technical Thrash Metal. Then the mellotron and synths by Frank will destroy your senses in Static Horizon, another blast of futuristic violence by the trio, followed by their 2024 version for The Silent Call, from their 2023 EP, sounding sharper and more dynamic, with Frank and Marco crafting a thunderous atmosphere perfect for Laurens’ riffs and roars. And in Ascending we face a fast, heavy, in-your-face blend of Thrash Metal and modern, otherworldly elements, sounding utterly vibrant form start to finish.

After the ethereal interlude Motionless Balance, the trio comes ripping once again with Reign Of Infinite, starting in an epic mode thanks to the visceral riffs by Laurens, striking us hard with their cryptic Thrash Metal attack; whereas slowing things down considerably we have Absent Presence, a more pensive, atmospheric tune albeit not as thrilling as the rest of the album. Then back to a more vicious sonority we have In Between Realities, with Laurens screaming manically supported by the metallic bass by Frank and the always demolishing beats by Marco; and Laurens continues to shred his axe mercilessly in Cryptosphere, offering more of the band’s extremely technical blend of Thrash Metal, resulting in by far one of the strongest songs of the album. Finally, we face Coda – Wander Into The Light, a captivating, eerie outro that puts a climatic conclusion to the band’s journey through an unknown dimension.

“We wrote a lot of different material. We had so many ideas, which eventually ended up on a slightly different path – a more cinematic path, I would say. This new record has a much darker atmosphere,” commented Frank, while Laurens also had some remarks about the album compared to their debut. “We learned a lot from our debut album. The biggest lesson we learned was how to create songs that really come together as complete pieces, rather than just combining riffs.” In other words, get ready for the second chapter of Cryptosis by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their music on Spotify, and of course by purchasing Celestial Death from their own webstore, from BandCamp, or by clicking HERE or HERE. The hour is upon us, or maybe I should say the future of extreme music is upon us, led by those Dutch metallers armed with their technical yet always visceral music.

Best moments of the album: Ascending, Reign Of Infinite and Cryptosphere.

Worst moments of the album: Absent Presence.

Released in 2025 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. Prologue – Awakening 1:16
2. Faceless Matter 3:52
3. Static Horizon 5:10
4. The Silent Call 5:02
5. Ascending 3:38
6. Motionless Balance 1:48
7. Reign Of Infinite 5:44
8. Absent Presence 4:15
9. In Between Realities 3:47
10. Cryptosphere 4:22
11. Coda – Wander Into The Light 3:11

Limited Edition bonus track
12. Geometry Of A Digital Thought 6:36

Band members
Laurens Houvast – vocals, guitars
Frank te Riet – bass, mellotron, synths, backing vocals
Marco Prij – drums

Album Review – Zen Disdain / Inanition (2024)

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An up-and-coming Netherlands-based Blackened Doom/Death Metal outfit will reach deep inside your soul with their incendiary first full-length opus.

Formed in 2021 by the creative minds behind the Symphonic Extreme Metal band Esperoza, Enschede, Netherlands-based Blackened Doom/Death Metal outfit Zen Disdain has quickly expanded into a full-bodied act, drawing talented musicians from different bands, having already released their debut EP Premonition in 2023. Now the band formed of Zoya Belous (Zoya, Esperoza) on vocals, Dmitrii Prihodko (Esperoza) on the guitars, Ivo Bijker (Krijs, Dimensional Psychosis) on bass, and Ronny Meinders (Diseased Brains, Death Squad) on drums will unleash their highly anticipated debut album, Inanition, an album that will surely captivate new audiences and solidify their place in the metal world.

The scorching, strident riffs by Dmitrii ignite the venomous opener Everpresent, with its deep guttural vocals sounding haunting and absolutely impressive throughout its almost seven minutes of a first-class hybrid of Death and Doom Metal; whereas a tempest-infused intro explodes into a feast of Blackened Doom in The Shore, also presenting elements from old school Black Metal, in special in the riffage by Dmitrii, with Zoya also delivering classy operatic vocals. It’s truly interesting how the band managed to add hints of an amalgamation of styles to their music, like in The Woods, where we can sense some Gothic and Symphonic Metal nuances thanks to the dynamic vocals by Zoya.

The title-track Inanition will darken your minds and thoughts in the name of extreme music, with the metallic, reverberating bass by Ivo and the pounding drums by Ronny hitting us hard until the very last second; and then investing in a much heavier, more electrifying sonority led by the hammering drums by Ronny we face Spiritual Desert, while Zoya continues to hypnotize us all with her powerful vocals. Symbols again presents a strong and hammering Doom Metal vibe, with the piercing riffs by Dmitrii walking hand in hand with the blast beats by Ronny, and the closing tune What Remains of Us is sluggish and pensive from the very first second, with Zoya delivering her most melancholic, somber vocals lines of the whole album, sounding and feeling like a classic by Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride.

Blending diverse influences to craft a style that’s as haunting as it is dynamic, Zen Disdain are on fire throughout their entire first full-length opus, which you can grab a copy from their own BandCamp page. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and stream their music on Spotify, letting the dark and mesmerizing music by those Dutch metallers reach deep inside your soul while they conquer the world of heavy music with more excellent albums like Inanition, setting the bar high for any other band hailing from their stunning homeland and, of course, darkening the skies with a huge dosage of high quality doom for our total delight.

Best moments of the album: Everpresent, Spiritual Desert and Symbols.

Worst moments of the album: Inanition.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Everpresent 6:48
2. The Shore 6:07
3. The Woods 6:01
4. Inanition 5:57
5. Spiritual Desert 6:37
6. Symbols 7:30
7. What Remains of Us 8:42

Band members
Zoya Belous – vocals
Dmitrii Prihodko – guitars, harsh vocals
Ivo Bijker – bass
Ronny Meinders – drums

Album Review – Cryptosis / The Silent Call EP (2023)

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A fearless trio form the Netherlands will attack our senses armed with an exciting new EP, a first warning shot in anticipation of the band’s 2024 new studio album.

Formed back in 2020 in Enschede, a municipality and city in the eastern Netherlands, from the ashes of a band named Distillator, Progressive Thrash Metal outfit Cryptosis is back in action after their critically acclaimed 2021 debut album Bionic Swarm with a fun and vibrant EP titled The Silent Call. Recorded by Olaf Skoreng at The Moon, and mixed and mastered by Fredrik Folkare, The Silent Call serves not only as a new sign of life by Laurens Houvast on vocals and guitars, Frank te Riet on bass and mellotron, and Marco Prij on drums, but also as a first warning shot in anticipation of the band’s new studio effort which is in the works for next year.

The strident guitars by Laurens ignite the awesome title-track The Silent Call, showcasing futuristic, cosmic lyrics (“Grand structures, scrape the cosmos / and shadows, dance with deceit / my presence is known, yet obscured / amidst the babel of voices”) amidst a fusion of Thrash, Death and Black Metal with a strong melodic vein. Put differently, if this is an indication of what to expect from their next album, I can’t wait for it. Marco then dictates the pace with his thunderous beats in Master of Life, a previously unreleased song from their 2021 album Bionic Swarm sessions, while Frank makes sure the earth trembles armed with his bass in another Progressive Thrash Metal feast, not to mention the awesomely desperate, raspy vocals by Laurens. And recorded in Athens, Greece in November 2022 during the band’s latest European tour, we’re treated to an excellent version of Prospect of Immortality, where the trio showcases their refined technique and passion for heavy music, bringing sheer adrenaline to the crowd, while the second live song, Transcendence, sounds absolutely bestial, perfect for some action inside the mosh pit, with Laurens once again kicking some as on vocals supported by the rumbling kitchen by Frank and Marco.

Two original songs, two live songs, and an endless amount of adrenaline and heaviness. This is in a nutshell what you’ll get in The Silent Call, available for a full listen on Spotify, and on sale from the band’s own webshop or by clicking HERE or HERE, making us eager for the band’s 2024 full-length album as already mentioned. Hence, don’t forget to follow those talented Dutch metallers on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates (and after listening to the live songs from The Silent Call I bet you’ll be more than excited to see Cryptosis on stage), and so on, adding an extra touch of thrash to your already frantic metalhead life.

Best moments of the album: The Silent Call and Transcendence (live in Athens).

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. The Silent Call 5:00
2. Master of Life 4:12
3. Prospect of Immortality (live in Athens) 6:15
4. Transcendence (live in Athens) 4:05

Band members
Laurens Houvast – vocals, guitars
Frank te Riet – bass, mellotron, backing vocals
Marco Prij – drums