CYTOTOXIN were formed in 2010, and they are from Chemnitz, Germany. The brutal Death Metal outfit release their fifth full-length album. It was mixed and mastered by Mendel Bij De Leij (CATALYSIS; INSURRECTION; SEVERE TORTURE). The album has a length of about 48 minutes, and it was released via California label Unique Leader Records, which have many brutal/technical Death Metal and Deathcore bands among their current roster. The album has a frantic start with the opening track “Hope Terminator”. It is a mixture of blast-beat driven pummeling, technical lead guitars, devastating guitar riffs, and huge breakdowns. The vocals are growls mainly varying around the deep end of the guttural range. The melodies are grim and at the end, there are epic and melancholic parts. “Condemnesia” continues with the brutal and technical Death Metal assault. The technicality of the lead guitars reminds on the opening track however, the riffing is aggressive and thunderous at times. The track varies mostly around mid-tempo with twists in either direction. The melodies are spine-chilling and atmospheric at times, and this is enhanced by adding a few effects. “Behind Armored Doors” is a fast track during the verse parts, driven by the blast-beats and the double-bass drumming. Tempo switches are delivered during the choruses, which are epic with dark melodies at a measured tempo. Towards the end, there is another huge breakdown concluding the song. The title track starts with punishing guitar riffing at fast pace. There are numerous twists and turns in tempo and rhythm, with short thunderous episodes at measured tempo during the middle part of the track. The technicality of the guitars is mainly kept in the background with some more prominent episodes towards the end of the track including a contributing lead guitar solo with some oriental vibes. “Biographyte” has been released as video, and the YouTube link is provided below.

“Deadzone Desert” is a two-minutes instrumental and atmospheric inter-lude, driven by the acoustic guitars. “The Everslave” goes back to the brutal and technical Death Metal attack, led by the lead guitars, the tight guitar riffs, the crushing basslines, and the hammering drums. The vocals include a few pig squeals but remain mainly the deep-lying growls. The tempo is switching throughout the track, with some powerful down-tempo parts and a breakdown towards the end. The focus of “Eventless Horizon” is the delivery of blood-freezing melodies provided by the guitars. The tempo and rhythm are all over the place with fast, mid-tempo, and down-tempo parts. The fast parts are driven by the blast-beats, devastating riffs and the lead guitar contributions. The melodies provided by the lead guitars have a few neo-classical vibes at times, while the guitar riffs are thunderous during the down-tempo parts. Towards the end, the melodies become melancholic delivered by another contributing lead guitar solo. “Eventless Horizon” is one of the album highlights. “Bulloverdozed” starts with a lot of technicalities, provided by the lead guitars and the drums at fast pace. The guitar riffing is tight during the fast parts and thunderous during the parts at measured tempo. The down-tempo break leads into a cool lead guitar solo, before the track circles back to a final verse/chorus part. “Transition Of The Staring Dead” starts with a short bass solo, leading into a chaotic verse part at crazy pace with punishing riffs and relentless drumming. The chorus parts are driven by the chilling and melancholic melodies. “Revelation” is a cinematic spoken-word pre-lude to the final track “From Bitter Rivers” and this one starts with plenty of atmospheres provided by the lead guitars at a measured tempo. The guitar riffing is devastating and thunderous at times. The tempo is mainly measured with spine-chilling and, once again, melancholic melodies. “From Bitter Rivers” has many Deathcore features, and it is a good way to end the album.

CYTOTOXIN release a very good technical brutal Death Metal album. “Biographyte” is a brutal delivery of high-quality Death Metal, driven by punishing guitar riffing, blast-beat thunderstorms, and technical lead guitar contributions. All is kept together by the deep-lying growling vocals. The songwriting of the album is mature, and it leaves room for incorporating different styles into the songs. The album is well produced. “Biographyte” is an early technical brutal Death Metal highlight of the year and fans of the brutal side of Death Metal will surely be delighted with the songs on the album.