Biomechanical
Cannibalised


1.5
very poor

Review

by Mikesn EMERITUS
February 26th, 2008 | 28 replies


Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

Review Summary: All shred, no substance. Expect Biomechanical to be announced for Gigantour soon.

That the John K. Ban…err sorry, Biomechanical is featured in Earache Records' line-up may very well be the most fitting record deal since The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus signed with Virgin Records. Lead by John K. (real name: Yiannis Koutselinis), the seemingly dictatorial frontman who seized control of the band and had the rest of the members walk out on him simultaneously last summer, the newly reassembled group is fairly adept at all things regarding earaches. Combining the hick-metal of Pantera, the thrashy speed metal of Judas Priest's Painkiller album (particularly in John's screams), Nevermore's more aggressive material, and some Meshuggah, Biomechanical's sophomore effort (released in 2005), The Empires of the Worlds, is pretty much exactly what one would expect it to be. An album that shows some sort of promise, but ultimately tries to do too many things at once.

After listening to Biomechanical's third album, it's rather apparent that Yiannis hasn't learned from the mistakes made on The Empires of the Worlds.

In short, Cannibalised is a mess. In effort to create a destructive, chaotic sound, the band has abandoned any semblance of conventional song writing. That isn't to say that John K. should stick to writing the same formulaic power-thrash as everybody else, but the route he takes is just frustratingly horrid. Opening track, Fallen in Fear reveals this much. Sporadic, technical musicianship is the name of Biomechanical's game, and while it's obvious that each (ex) band member has talent, nobody puts it to good use. The riffing can best be described as random, with (ex) guitarists Chris Webb and Jamie Hunt picking up and dropping chords every five to ten seconds. Fans will claim that this is all in the name of the convenient entity known as progressive metal, but the only thing that seems to progressing as I listen to Cannibalised is my headache (excuse me for a second while I go find an Aspirin). Indeed, the structure-less transitions and time changes of The Unseen or the title track are not only irritating, but they generally make little to no sense at all. The worst part? Nearly every song sounds the same, meaning you're in for a nice, long, forty-eight minutes in which you experience the musical equivalent of getting your head smashed in by a rusty pipe. Metal.

The one thing Biomechanical has going for them are the vocals of John K. Pretty much what you'd get if you threw Rob Halford, Warrel Dane, John K's banshee shrieks admittedly fit the album's violent sound rather well. The man definitely has range and variety, switching effortlessly from a high pitched wail to guttural death metal grunting to one of those banshee shrieks. Yeah…not quite original but he pulls it off decently enough, I suppose. It isn't enough to make the incoherent song structures and the "Hey guys maybe if we all play our instruments really loud and fast we will be awesome" type vibes sound good, however, and the chaotic sound that Biomechanical achieves seems to be present more because the guitarists are dropping generic chugging riffs left and right all the while former drummer Matt C. pretends he's a machine gun behind the kit. But hey, *** happens when two of your biggest influences are Pantera and Nevermore, huh?



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user ratings (35)
2.7
average


Comments:Add a Comment 
Mikesn
Emeritus
February 27th 2008


3707 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

meshuggah does this better

Tyler
Emeritus
February 27th 2008


7927 Comments


I kind of liked Empires of the World (as in 3/5) but I've heard a lot of stuff about this, mostly regarding it being awfully produced.

combustion07
February 27th 2008


12822 Comments


Wow, this sounds like it sucks pretty bad.

Pebster49
February 27th 2008


3023 Comments


"In short, Cannibalised is a mess" sums up everything...who ever produced this is shitty

south_of_heaven 11
February 27th 2008


5612 Comments


I'd label this more "progressive metal" than "thrash" after listening to a handful of tunes off of their myspace.
They are, as you described however, so fucking stretched out and sporadic that it's a chore to listen to them.

Pebster49
February 27th 2008


3023 Comments


It really soundsd like two or three songs going at once...I had to check if I didn't have song going on in my itunes. Everything seems to be going over everything.

jrowa001
February 27th 2008


8752 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

this album was shit! i am a fan of their previous album though. the few things i didnt like about their last album is basically mashed together to make this album

Altmer
February 27th 2008


5711 Comments


Nevermore rule, Mike. Fuck you. Fuck you bigtime.

I haven't heard this though, but if it sounds like Meshuggah then I must check it out.

Confessed2005
February 27th 2008


5637 Comments


Mikesn is clearly just a retarded bedroom shredder who can't play guitar.

lulz

Wizard
February 27th 2008


20520 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I don't know Mike, I think your ratings are a little skewed sometimes. And its not because I like these guys. They are alright for a listen or two, but rating this very poor seems like you just listened to this once and said 'I've had enough'. My point is that there is far worse stuff out there and this certainly doesn't deserve a poor rating by any means compared to shit bands. These guys have skill, but it just needs to be put together in a more coherent way. Thats just my feelings on this album and review.



Other than that, the review was well written and easy to read. It just feels sometimes that your ideas are rooted in pessimism. This Message Edited On 02.27.08

Willie
Moderator
February 27th 2008


20214 Comments


Other than that, the review was well written and easy to read. It just feels sometimes that your ideas are rooted in pessimism.
When you're METAL then pessimism and cynicism is what your entire life should be rooted in!
In something more relevant, this album is pretty bad...

Wizard
February 27th 2008


20520 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I agree, its not very good, but reviews should be a little more open minded (ie. these guys have good ideas, but they are too chaotically put together).



When you're METAL then pessimism and cynicism is what your entire life should be rooted in!


I guess I'm not metal than hahahaha! Leave the cynicism and negativity to the faggot emo kids. They provide enough of that for the lot of us.



FR33L0RD
February 27th 2008


6401 Comments


Ilike the other album"The Empires of the Worlds".
The reviewed one; i didnt listen to it

Essence
February 27th 2008


6695 Comments


mike, in the last paragraph, you say John K.'s vocals are what you'd get if you threw Rob Halford and Warrel Dane..... should probably fix that :P

This Message Edited On 02.27.08

Slaytan
February 27th 2008


1185 Comments


All shred, no substance. Expect Biomechanical to be announced for Gigantour soon.

I love me some shred, but that made me laugh.

Wizard
February 27th 2008


20520 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

All shred, no substance. Expect Biomechanical to be announced for Gigantour soon.


Ummmm wasn't Into Eternity and Opeth on Gigantour? I don't see that as a joke seeing as most of the bands on the tour aren't really based around shred; more riff/ solo oriented.



Or let me guess, shred can mean any type of guitar skills? Im confussed with all of this retarded terminology!

Mikesn
Emeritus
February 28th 2008


3707 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

That was more of a shot against Dave's guitar solo comments a few days ago. I don't actually have any problem with Gigantour. :p

mike, in the last paragraph, you say John K.'s vocals are what you'd get if you threw Rob Halford and Warrel Dane..... should probably fix that :P
Ah, I had something else there but I took it out because it was dumb and I guess I forgot to fix it.

My point is that there is far worse stuff out there and this certainly doesn't deserve a poor rating by any means compared to **** bands.
These guys pretty much embody everything I dislike about metal. There are definitely worse bands, but these guys are down there.

Mikesn is clearly just a retarded bedroom shredder who can't play guitar.
nope, i can't shred either.

Wizard
February 28th 2008


20520 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

That was more of a shot against Dave's guitar solo comments a few days ago


Ah, I get it now!



These guys pretty much embody everything I dislike about metal. There are definitely worse bands, but these guys are down there.


Fair enough. Your opinion is respected by me anyways!



72haha72
April 4th 2008


498 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

This is the album with the most un-inspired riffing I've ever heard

HeadCharge123
May 14th 2008


475 Comments


Music for a ****ed up generation :|
honestly this is pretty bad
would never listen to this again by choice



maybe they should use this album to torture people with




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