So that's why Steve never let him sing. . . .
Cybergrind is the band that features former Mortification guitarist Mick Carlisle on guitars, vocals, and as primary songwriter. The guitars are ok, the songs aren't terrible, but the vocals. . . not so good, Mick.
So let's backtrack just a bit and talk about the music. This is competent, although unspectacular, death metal. There are blast sections, but on the whole it leans more towards the death/classic metal style of Metanoia's In Darkness.... There are some pretty cool moments -- "The Complaints of the Dead" is a great song -- and "Transcend" and "Nauseating Sickness" both have some interesting passages, but for each of these there's a "Brainwashed", "Tragedy Strikes", or "Destiny" that sounds like a band merely grinding through the motions. Some nice riffs appear, but all too often I find that musically, Cybergrind has a difficult time holding my interest.
So the vocals. Ever heard Death List? These aren't quite that bad, but they're definitely in the same vein and carry the same effect -- lessening the listener's pleasure. I'm not trying to be harsh, but they're bland and lifeless and add nothing to the band's sound. I guess it could be hard to sound convicting when the song that bears the band's very name has the phrase "Taking out the trash" in the chorus, but that doesn't help me dig the sound any more.
Anyway, this disc isn't a total waste, but I don't see any reason someone would listen to it instead of Crimson Thorn, Chords of the Grave, Metanoia, or good old Mortification if you must hear Mick. Hey, on the upside, Death List fans are going to seriously eat this up.
6/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #83Reviewed by Bob HoweJust another metal band. Or was it? I spun the CD one more time. Cybergrind was beginning to sound like just any other metal band. I listened to song after song. With drums and bass lines being standard metal, it was the guitar. The lead guitar work had something different. After leaving Mort, Mick Carlisle started Cybergrind in the mid-90's. The group has a promising sound, although the guitar…Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco PovervestHere's the current band of guitarist Michael Carlisle who was part of Mortification in their early days when the band sounded more brutal than nowadays. It seems Michael wanted to stay in the brutal vein. Though Cybergrind isn't like early Mortification at all. This certainly is extreme in terms of speed and lots of double bass. The vocals are grinding and a bit dark. The title-track is a good…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by SORGI am not sure why they chose to name this band "Cybergrind" because the music is not what I would call "cyber" nor is it what I would call "true grind", although it does have a LOT of "grind" elements especially the guitar and drums in tracks like "Nauseating Sickness" and songs like the two minute "Rubber Chicken Refection". This is some very talented and well structured death metal from…Similar sounding releases
2001xDisciplexDoxology
1993MortificationPost Momentary Affliction
2005Pale HorseUntil the Last Seal Is Opened...
2002Acoustic TormentSchwarzwald
1999Embodyment1993-1996
2004Royal AnguishThe Chronicles of Autumn Sorrow
