From the EPK: Darren Cesca, drummer with GORATORY, ESCHATON and previously DEEDS OF FLESH, has returned with the second album from his unconscionably brutal solo project, CYTOLYSIS. "Surge Of Cruelty" is constructed from eleven sonic acts of torture, where twisted technicality and methodical precision collide with frenzied explosions of fury and unnerving alien atmospheres. When you look up what kind of music CYTOLYSIS plays, you see Brutal Death Metal popping up. Whereas that is quite correct, I feel that it does short-change what is in store musically. I would add the term Technical at the beginning of the description of the musical genre, as the twists and turns that CYTOLYSIS are capable of are rather impressive. I might not be the most devoted Death Metal enthusiast, but I know what I like, and "Surge Of Cruelty" has a musical substance that I find very good indeed. I know, it surprised me as well, but it is what it is. The songs have depth, the rhythms, breaks and interludes make sense, and the way all the parts have been glued together makes for a very good listen to what I feel could be quite the surprise for a lot of Death Metal devotees. What I can't tell you is whether the 2020 debut album "Portraits of Malevolence" is of the same stature as what I get to hear on "Surge Of Cruelty". There really only is one way to find out. What I haven't commented on thus far are the vocals. There is a reason for that. The guttural low sounds are okay, but are mixed with the high pitched whine of an asthmatic piglet. Then you also have the extremely even lower vocals that remind me of a horny wild boar on the prowl. All of these are different, but they are all done is such a fashion that it renders recognising what is being said/grunted/vomited into the microphone nigh on impossible. Sometimes you hear a grunt that isn't coming from the depths of Hell, and then it almost sounds okay. Why do I mention all this? Because all these vocal outings have been found to be too high in the mix for me. They dominate the sound instead of blending in with the rather well presented music. and that takes away most of the enjoyment I had in dissecting and analysing the instrumental contributions from the musicians that make up CYTOLYSIS. Unfortunately, that has resulted in a rather substantial diminishment of my pleasure to listen to "Surge Of Cruelty".