Ok. How do I start? The history of CRYPTA should give a good rock biography and the band just started in 2021. Two members of Brazilian thrash metal queens NERVOSA left the band to start a side death metal project and little they knew, it became much more than that. Let me give you a brush over their career defining moments so far so you can understand. The band started during a pandemic with  bassist and vocals Fernanda Lira and drummer Luana Dameto leaving NERVOSA and hiring the Dutch born guitar player Sonia Anubis from COBRA SPELL to start writing what would become their first album Echoes Of the Soul. A great introductory banger of an album with killer songs bearing in mind that all the material was written during pandemic months by exchanging files online to one another. Then, Taina Bergamaschi, an obscure metal guitar player from the Brazilian countryside made the band a quartet and added her solos and ideas to the already created first album tunes.

Right after Echoes Of The Soul was released, Sonia Anubis left the band to pursue a different kind of metal output and yet, another rare talent was found  in the Brazilian countryside with her replacement, guitar player Jessica Di Falchi. The first album was promoted with relentless touring  by the new band formation and great videos online were produced. The jewel of the crown would be their performance at Wacken Open Air in 2022 and you should watch it online. South, Central and North America together with Europe were also part of that memorable tour. The United States in particular was spoiled with killer shows despite the tragedy the band had to experience due to a tornado in Illinois that killed a fan and destroyed their touring vehicle. American insurance bastards did not help and the band had to handle over $60.000 in damages. This could destroy careers especially in the first USA tour of a band from Latin America where resources are hard to come.

However, they have already impressed at that point enough fans around the world with their unforgettable concerts and the money was raised in 24hrs online. The metal community can be fantastic at times. The girls did not stop there and finished the tour with success. And in addition to all that, a second album was cooking in the background during the tour and great expectations were created about what would be the result with the new formation. Shades Of Sorrow launched 4/8/23 is the result, and in my opinion, it is a style defining album that takes black metal to another level. Like me, I believe a lot of metal fans can get bored to black and death metal sung monotonically with guttural, a few screams and relentless chug chugs. I like some flavor to my extreme music and Cypta offers a world of ideas and sensibilities in their output. With unique crispy, crunchy, guttural vocal style by Fernanda Lira and amazing musicianship by all members, Shades Of Sorrow surpasses the excellent first album and reaches that magic rare moment in any band's career. The  beginning of creating a musical identity that will make their music recognizable whatever they go.

The album starts with a small dark piano introduction called "The Aftermath"  setting the mood and after a little over a minute your years are assaulted by the first tune "Dark Clouds". A complete face melter with crazy tempos and melodic variations. An impressive start for the album advising what is to come. They dare to add  crazy acoustic guitar nuances in the song bringing new flavors to the style. The girls are impressive musicians as well. Every song of the album will offer them a moment to shine individually. Some songs may indulge you with 3, or even up to 4 masterful guitar solos. The second tune follows with the epic "Poisonous Apathy" with a killer bass sound. The bass sound has been criticized in some reviews of this album I read. Is perfect in my opinion and the bass sound is absolutely killer. Let the bass talk! Another extraordinary tune that takes you to a complete musical journey exploring many different moods and ending with Fernanda whispering in your ears saying you are drifting away. Magic.

A more traditional black metal style comes with the great "The Outsider". Already a favorite for many fans and some band members as well I heard. With an introduction alla Sabbath suddenly the tune goes completely berserk with a completely unique riff and crazy blast beats. The chorus is great and shows that Fernanda Lira is a great songwriter. Creative melodies that perfectly fit her voice styles and very good lyrics that explore the bad inner thoughts that everybody may have secretly in their heads. It is a pleasure to understand the lyrics with the utter musical brutality mixed with melodic passages in the background.

This album is relentless and completely destroys with "Stronghold". Another great lyric and chorus that should make fans lose their minds live. A spectacular mid section mood change with a guitar riff and an epic solo giving PINK FLOYD vibes in death metal! The band goes back to dark riffs moods explored in the beginning of the tune that you may have forgotten. I like the structure created in all the songs and how the riffs and moods are repeated but not when you expect. It is a pleasure to hear music well played. They have great musical ideas that will open the style to more ears around the world without losing the brutality. My favorite song of the album is "The Other Side Of Anger" but this may change with time. Nevertheless, this song is a masterpiece in my opinion. It has everything I need to make me feel good about the word heavy in my metal. Great lyrics and melody with a chorus that will make you think about that anger that you may hold secretly inside. How about having a straight conversation with your anger with a cup of tea? This tune also has a great video on Youtube you should check.

After a mid piano interval called "The Limbo", we are presented with "Trial Of Traitors". Another head detonator, the song brings again the great guitar work from Taina Bergamaschi and Jessica Di Falchi. A match made in hell and this is displayed in all songs. You will hear a masterful solo from each of them in every song. After a while you will notice their different styles and be capable of distinguishing the solos of each one just by listening. A great combination of styles with consistent great performances from both players and finger licking spicy crunchy good riffs complementing each other. An absolutely killer guitar duo. Check the Blair Witch style video of this tune on Youtube. Absolutely brutal.

The song that may take the place of my favorite so far may be  "Lullaby For The Forsaken" because it dares to be a little different in its proposal on an album that mixes trash, black and death metal like no other and delivers something comprehensible and whimsical as the final product. Fernanda starts humming a small charming melody and the assault in your senses starts immediately. Imagine a nightmare with whispers between kaos telling you to rush now! The band shows their creative arsenal and are able to present interesting ideas within the genre. This is something I like in every great album. The song that shows the band getting a little bit more outside the box with interesting ideas that can be further explored. Great listen.

Another favorite for me and many fans is "Agent Of Kaos", a definitive neck breaking tune. The band displays so many ideas and influences causing each composition to uniquely build their own style but with reminders of numerous classic bands of the genre they were influenced by. The listener will see that all different parts, riffs and moods will serve the song perfectly however. Now, allow me to open a paragraph for the out of the charts phenomenal drummer Luana Dameto. A complete beast of a drummer that will make a lot of metal drummers break their sticks. Seriously, watch any of her drum cams. With an expression of complete peace and zen not seen in any metal drummers ever, she completely destroys the instrument. The name of the game here is precision and not mannerisms. With unique grooves, great passages, absolutely ridiculous blast beats (with any hand drummers!) and double pedal work, she fills the songs with a variety of metal styles showing even her brazilian rhythmic roots in the mix. A master of her craft.

The last song is "Lord Of Ruins" which also has a great and well produced video on Youtube. With a riff that will ring in your ears forever, this is a great tune to end this brilliant album. Styrofoam sawing guitars, killer drumming and great bass lines cutting deep in the mix, makes this closer a joy to listen to showing that not a single tune on this album disappoints. Every song has something different to say and for me this is essential in every artist's work. Fernanda's unique vocals became my favorite in extreme metal nowadays. The album was recorded once again at Family Mob Studios in Brazil and the production is high level. CRYPTA will be invading the world next year starting by headlining a tour in the USA in January/February 2024. I look forward to checking them in the UK someday as they have never been here. Manchester please! I am sure however that Latin American concerts may still pop up in 2023 to promote the album. They will also be opening for GHOST in Sao Paulo late September 2023 . CRYPTA is being recognized in the metal scene by their talent and they are currently achieving music chart positions in a number of countries with a metal style that usually stays away from these charts. I am sure they will be busy for some time. Get this album.

CRYPTA and SEPULTURA mean the same thing (grave) and they are both from Brazil. Is CRYPTA the new SEPULTURA? A tour with both would be earthshaking.