Psychogenocide (Reissue)
Nervecell
•
February 12, 2015

The follow up to their 2008 release, "Preaching Venom", sees NERVECELL expand upon their technical prowess. Heading down the well-trodden path of Thrash/Death Metal, can "Psychogenocide" add some creative flair to this band's repertoire?
It is no well guarded secret that Death Metal is quickly becoming a bloated genre, it seems as though any modern band can open up a Pro Tools session and quickly bash out a 4 minute track. Drums can be programmed and quantizing is the new autotune. Now there is nothing wrong with this overly technical approach to recording. Some bands do in fact, make a living from it, but when it is done poorly, or just to make a band sound "technical", it falls flat on its face. Unfortunately, this is what we have here.
NERVECELL are good at what they do, they know how to write a creative and fully-fledged track. "All Eyes Upon Them" is a great testament to this fact. It is a pure blood pressure raising thrill ride that refuses to let you go, it has more in common with SLAYER, than DEATH. When this album hits the mark it doesn't just hit it, it smashes and uses the pieces to carve its name into the wall.
But upon closer inspection, this album suffers from being too clean. If someone were to run a razor along this album, roughen and scratch it, the outcome would be something greater. Unfortunately, this "over cleanness" leads to a lot of the tracks fall into plodding middle of the road Death Metal.
The use of Middle Eastern Influences does add some much needed depth to the music in places. Standout track "Shunq (To the Despaired...King of Darkness)", does this to a great effect and brings NERVECELL more in line with bands such as NILE. It is an interesting addition that brings certain tracks up from Death Metal purgatory.
All in all, "Psychogenocide" is not a bad album. But it is a step backwards for NERVECELL, I would love to see this band drop an awe-inspiring album in the near future, this is not out of the question for this band when you consider what they first released.<
6 / 10
Had Potential

"Psychogenocide (Reissue)" Track-listing:
1. Anemic Assurgency
2. Upon An Epidemic Scheme
3. All Eyes On Them
4. Amok Doctrine
5. Psychogenocide
6. Imprint
7. Shunq (To the Despaired...King of Darkness)
8. The Taste Of Betrayal
9. Driven By Nescience
10. Nation's Plague
Nervecell Lineup:
James Khazaal - Vocals, Bass
Barney Ribeiro - Guitar
Rami H. Mustafa - Guitar
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