CIPHER is a French Melodic Death Metal band, presenting their fourth full length album "Reminiscences." It is actually a compilation of older songs from previous albums, completely re-recorded from the ground up.  I haven't heard their prior releases so I can't say what they sound like comparatively...but hearing these songs for the first time has garnered my attention. I was immediately impressed with the very first opening notes from the guitars because their tone is so damn sinister throughout this album.  The overall production of "Reminiscences" is bold, but the tone of the instruments gives it a really stark quality that keeps it from being too clear.

Another sinister aspect is Vince's vocals—the dude sounds like he is growling through blood pouring out of his mouth.  He definitely has one of the more harsher Death growls I've heard in the sub-genre for some time and the album is better for it.  Because of the guitars and vocals being on the darker side, this album has a great chance to appeal to other Deatheads who may not care for the more melodic side of Death Metal.  Gothenburg Melodeath, this isn't. The band changes things up on a dime too as evident in the first track, "Corps et Ame," where the songs turns into a straight up barn burner after a dose of melodic guitars.  This leads into a soaring solo that is backed by enough double bass from FLORENTIN to cause an earthquake.

"Invidia," is a sterling exampling of MDM having the ability to be just as intense as regular Death Metal.  This track is a short burst of adrenaline; the more Black Metal style riffing in the track's beginning and ending really caps each portion of the song as a more intense look at how melody can always be useful to Death Metal. Through it all, the band also finds the time to be catchy.  "Le Point Emergent," is immediately an ear bug with infectious melodies igniting the song's beginning.  The rhythm of the vocals pushes the song along, as well as the hard riffing and solos.  The last minute or so of the song is spectacular with the riffs and leads melding into one, plus the drums crashing the song into a grand crescendo.

"Land of Fire," is a nice way to cap off the track especially when it is such a diverse one by itself.  Ethereal keys and clean guitar are accented by spoken word as the song builds up with simple but effective riffs.  These riffs grow into densely packed rhythms that could slice through air; they work well with the duel vocal attack of the Death growls and clean vocal lines.  CIPHER is definitely a band I will go back to and check out prior works and one I will watch for in the future for newer releases.  If you're a fan of Melodic Death Metal, this is highly recommend.