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středa 21. ledna 2026

Recenze/review - CRYOXYD - This World We Live In... (2025)


CRYOXYD - This World We Live In...
CD 2025, Dolorem Records

for english please scroll down

Další noc vytřeštěných očí. Smutek a strach, deprese. Nechápeš to. Vyrostl jsi v normální šťastné rodině. Máš dobrou práci, měl bys být spokojený. Jenže tomu tak není. Prohlédneš za jediný den tisíce obrázků a videí. Mozek se ti vaří ve vlastní šťávě. Zahlcen informacemi padáš do hlubiny. Války, hladomor, násilí, hnus a lidská špína. Tenhle svět se řítí do záhuby. V mořích jsou tuny plastu a v hlavách budeme mít brzy čipy. Stal si se robotem pochodujícím pomalu na smrt. Vyděšený ve své ulitě. Mám rád kapely, které mají svůj názor, výraz, které hrají originálně, které mě dokáží vytáhnout alespoň na chvilku z téhle podivné doby.

Francouzští CRYOXYD hrají death metal a mají na svém kontě dvě demonahrávky a několik singlů. Když jsem slyšel jejich loňský debut poprvé, hrozně se mi na něm líbilo, že na něm velice šikovně a inteligentně kombinují tradiční old schoolové postupy s těmi progresivnějšími a technickými. Zkrátka a dobře, došlo ke vzájemnému přenosu emocí a každé další setkání jsem si neskutečně užíval. Možná jsme všichni spojeni v pevné šílené síti, ale tuhle smečku řadím mezi ty, které ji umí roztrhat na kusy. 


Novinka je divoká ze své podstaty. Připomíná mi má velmi častá setkání s klasickými autory sci-fi románů. Minimálně atmosféra a nálady nové nahrávky jsou velmi podobné. Možná jsme jako lidstvo jenom pokusnými králíky, jejichž chov se příliš nepovedl, ale prostou pravdou je, že pokud budou hrát podobné kapely jako CRYOXYD, bude mě bavit sledovat novou hudbu. Nechat se unášet na krvavých vlnách chladných melodií, užívat si surový a přesto melodický vokál, každý úder bicích, bublání baskytary. Novinka na mě funguje i po zvukové stránce. Líbí se mi motiv na obalu, který (opět) ve mě evokuje obálky knih, které mám tolik rád. Hudba je zde velmi promyšlená, zajímavá, nenudím se ani chvilku. Někdy bývám rád sám. V těchto chvílích si pouštím stále dokola "This World We Live In..." a přemýšlím o tom, kam jako lidstvo směřujeme? Proč je všude najednou tolik zla? Nebo se mi to jenom zdá? Jednotlivé skladby se mi zadírají pomalu pod kůži i do mozku, do podvědomí. Netuším, jak to máte nastavené vy, ale já stále, i po tolika letech, poslouchám hudbu srdcem. Musí mě něčím chytit, zaujmout, musím si podupávat nohou do rytmu. A u téhle desky jsem doslova ve svém živlu. Máte rádi PESTILENCE, DEATH, SKELETAL REMAINS? Potom neváhejte ani chvilku a myslím si, že si tohle album užijete jako já. Možná jsem díky své vytíženosti otálel trošku déle s napsáním recenze, ale přátelé, o to víc si tenhle zásek užívám. Už teď se moc těším, co od téhle smečky uslyším příště. Je něco neklidného, přitažlivého a nebál bych se napsat i magického, co mě na téhle desce zaujalo a neustále mě to nutí k dalším a dalším setkáním. Ať si svět kolem mě klidně shoří, ale tohle se opravdu velmi povedlo. Až mě bude zase čekat další noc vytřeštěných očí, určitě si album znovu rád pustím. Majestátní, temný a chladný technický death metal, ve kterém se potkává tradice s budoucností! Nahrávka, která se vám dostane až do morku kostí!

Asphyx says:

Another night of wide eyes. Sadness and fear, depression. You don't understand. You grew up in a normal, happy family. You have a good job, you should be satisfied. But that's not the case. You look at thousands of pictures and videos in a single day. Your brain is boiling in its own juice. Overwhelmed by information, you fall into the depths. War, famine, violence, filth, and human depravity. This world is hurtling toward destruction. There are tons of plastic in the oceans, and soon we'll have chips in our heads. You've become a robot slowly marching toward death. Terrified in your shell. I like bands that have their own opinion, expression, that play originally, that can pull me out of this strange time, at least for a moment.

French band CRYOXYD plays death metal and has two demo recordings and several singles to their credit. When I heard their debut album for the first time last year, I really liked how they very skillfully and intelligently combined traditional old school techniques with more progressive and technical ones. In short, there was a mutual transfer of emotions, and I enjoyed every subsequent encounter immensely. Maybe we are all connected in a solid, crazy network, but I rank this pack among those that can tear it to pieces. 


The new album is wild by nature. It reminds me of my frequent encounters with classic science fiction authors. At the very least, the atmosphere and mood of the new recording are very similar. Perhaps we, as humanity, are just guinea pigs whose breeding has not been very successful, but the simple truth is that if bands like CRYOXYD continue to play, I will enjoy listening to new music. Letting myself be carried away on bloody waves of cold melodies, enjoying the raw yet melodic vocals, every beat of the drums, the bubbling of the bass guitar. The new album also works for me in terms of sound. I like the motif on the cover, which (again) evokes the book covers I love so much. The music here is very thoughtful, interesting, I'm not bored for a moment. Sometimes I like to be alone. In these moments, I play "This World We Live In..." over and over again and think about where we are headed as humanity. Why is there so much evil everywhere all of a sudden? Or is it just my imagination? The individual songs slowly get under my skin and into my brain, into my subconscious. I don't know how you feel about it, but even after so many years, I still listen to music with my heart. It has to grab me, catch my attention, make me tap my foot to the rhythm. And with this album, I am literally in my element. Do you like PESTILENCE, DEATH, SKELETAL REMAINS? Then don't hesitate for a moment, and I think you will enjoy this album as much as I do. Maybe I took a little longer to write this review because of my busy schedule, but friends, that makes me enjoy this album even more. I'm already looking forward to what I'll hear from this pack next. There's something unsettling, attractive, and I wouldn't be afraid to say magical about this album that caught my attention and keeps me coming back for more. Let the world around me burn, but this is really well done. When another night of wide-eyed wakefulness awaits me, I will definitely be happy to play this album again. Majestic, dark, and cold technical death metal, where tradition meets the future! A recording that will get under your skin!


tracklist:
1. Cowered Under Darken Skies
2. Day After Day
3. Dismal Fate
4. Injected Minds
5. Trapped in a Mirror
6. Effigy of the Unknown
7. Ambivalent Feelings
8. Bodycell
9. Emptiness of Life
10. For All Whom Suffered
11. Mindless Human Form
12. This World We Live In...

A few questions - inteview with death metal band from France - CRYOXYD.


A few questions -  inteview with death metal band from France - CRYOXYD.

Answered Eron (Guitars, Vocals, Synths), thank you! 

Ave, can you introduce your band to our readers? – When was it founded and what style of music do you play etc.?

Hello, I formed Cryoxyd (Eron) from the ashes of my former band „In Memory Of…“ around 2000, I think. At the time, we released two demos between 2003 and 2006, but the band split not long after I moved to Paris, mainly because—oddly enough—I couldn’t find a drummer.

It has to be said that the style back then was a bit more unusual: a mix of death metal, industrial elements, and overly elaborate song structures. I publicly put the project on hold. I then composed the album on my own between 2006 and 2008, before reviving the band around 2019. It went on hiatus again during the Covid period, and afterward I ran into lineup issues.

Today, the style is definitively rooted in 90s Tampa Bay–style death metal.


Where and under what conditions were you recording the new album? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering?

We recorded the album at home, each of us in our own space, as it was originally meant to be a studio project—my project—and I neither had the financial means nor the intention to record it in a professional studio.

The mixing and mastering were handled by Kristian Ogir at Everloud Studios in Denmark, and I’m very satisfied with the result.

How many copies were released and which medium was used for this new edition (CD, digital, vinyl, cassette)?

For now, Dolorem Records has only released 400 CDs. We don’t yet have the financial means to press vinyl, but we’ll be opening pre-orders soon. I don’t think there will be a cassette release, as I admit it raises a kind of ecological dilemma for me. That said, I’m not even sure what pollutes more in the end—physical formats or digital.

Of course, the album is available on all streaming platforms.


Who is the author of the lyrics, how were they created, and what do they deal with?

The lyrics were written by me.
They broadly deal with humanity and society, touching on subjects meant to provoke reflection without being overtly philosophical. Beliefs are also addressed, as well as introspection, all set against a fundamentally misanthropic backdrop.

Who created the logo of the band, and who took care of the graphics and the website? What about you and social networks? Do you consider these things important?

I created the logo myself, and a friend of mine, Kevirus, handled the cover artwork, while the layout was done by David Fakrikian.

At the moment, we don’t have a website yet, but we’ll be working on that soon. As for social media, to be honest, I’m not very comfortable with it and I don’t particularly like it, but nowadays everything goes through social platforms, so there’s really no choice.

There’s also an ecological dilemma involved, because during a promotion period you inevitably overuse social media—posting constantly, reels, stories in every direction—and you start wondering whether it’s really useful compared to the pollution it generates. It’s a real issue.


Which label did you choose for releasing your album and why this label? Are you satisfied by how your label represents you and takés care about you?

Dolorem Records was the best option among those who showed interest in this album.

I used to hang out on Sunday afternoons at a small nightclub/concert venue in Paris called Le Klub, where I discovered several bands whose albums I immediately bought—albums that were released through Dolorem Records.

I also had friends on the label who spoke very highly of them; I’m thinking in particular of Infern and Misgivings. Alex, the head of the label, does a solid job with promotion, and above all he’s someone who is genuinely passionate about the underground scene.

Which bands do you idolise and where do you get your inspiration?

Obviously, all late-80s and 90s death metal bands, but more specifically from the Florida scene, even though there are also some European influences. That said, I think Cryoxyd’s style clearly fits within the 1990s Tampa, Florida wave.

My favorite band is, of course, Death, but also Mercyless, Pestilence, Monstrosity, Brutality, Nocturnus, and Morbid Angel—these are, I think, the influences that come through the most on this album.


Did you send your record to some Labels - which are the labels? How was the response?

Obviously, I first sent the album to the bigger labels—some replied, others didn’t. I reached out to all the well-known labels, both larger and mid-sized, but not so much to smaller ones, because I was already thinking about Dolorem Records for that category. To me, they seemed like the best option based on what I knew, and above all, I really like the bands signed to the label, which is naturally a mark of quality in my eyes.

I did receive very encouraging feedback from an American label, but they didn’t want to commit to a debut album yet. They advised me to first build and develop the project with the first release, and potentially consider working together on a second album if the project proves to be sufficiently established.

How many gigs have you played? Which type of gigs do you prefer, whether it's (clubs or festivals) and which of your performances would you consider as the best?

For the moment, we haven’t played live yet.
Our first show will take place on March 28th in Nantes, and we’ll most likely play another show the day before on the Paris–Nantes route. That said, we really need to find a proper deal with a booking agent, because I don’t want to exhaust the band by playing tiny, poorly structured shows.

We all have a solid musical background. For instance, Greg on drums plays or has played in several bands such as Deathcode Society on Osmose Productions, Glaciation on the same label, and Ufych on Holy Records. Jeff previously played in an Iron Maiden tribute band alongside Denis Stratton himself, guitarist on Iron Maiden’s self-titled debut album. As for me, I played in a punk band, Metal Urbain, with whom I toured internationally and recorded an album in San Francisco with Jello Biafra, former singer of Dead Kennedys.

We’re not newcomers to music, and as a result, we won’t accept just any conditions.


What about your plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?

Obviously, we want to tour as much as possible and overthrow Metallica!

How and where can your fans contact you? Can you provide some contact information?

I don’t even know if we already have any fans, haha.

Well, they can contact us directly through social media messaging—it’s always a pleasure to reply!

Thank you for this interview.

Thanx for the interview.

neděle 23. listopadu 2025

Recenze/review - M.A.C. OF MAD - Keep Music Evil (2025)


M.A.C. OF MAD - Keep Music Evil (2025)
CD 2025, l'inphantile collective

for english please scroll down

Ve vzduchu byl cítit hnilobný chlad kanalizace. Je velmi brzy ráno a já jako každý den kráčím vstříc novému dni. U cesty leží mrtvý potkan. Jdu dál a procházím kolem dávno opuštěných továrních hal. Pokaždé, když poslouchám nové album "Keep Music Evil" (mimochodem s ním kapela přichází po dlouhých devatenácti letech), tak mám neodbytný pocit, že kolem mě ožívají staré stroje. Kdysi byly spojeny v jednu zabijáckou síť. Hluk, bolest, nakumulovaný vztek, tohle je totálně nihilisticky brutální hudba, kterou nejvíc pochopí hlavně ti, kteří se často pohybují mezi chladnými stroji. 

Kdysi dávno, když byla kapela v devadesátých letech založena, tak se mi vůbec nelíbila. Tuhle odrůdu extrémní muziky jsem tenkrát vůbec nemusel. Letos je to ale zcela jiné. Možná jsem se posunul i já, ale dostal jsem úder přímo do ksichtu. Skladby jsou totiž velmi dobře napsány, mají v sobě drive. A i když se s tímto stylem u nás na stránkách víceméně nesetkáte, tohle je album, o kterém je pro mě opravdu nutné napsat. Jako bychom se vrátili do dob Matrixu a Terminátora. Z riffů tu odkapává zkažená krev, roboti se usmívají, protože už nad námi dávno převzali moc. Perfektně naladěný zvuk, chlad, lidé už nejsou druhem, který by byl na vrcholu řetězce. Koneckonců, posuďte sami. Doporučuji volume úplně doprava. 


Přiznám se, že psát o nové desce "Keep Music Evil" pro mě byla tak trošku výzva. K vzájemnému přenosu došlo opravdu až v momentě, když byly ulice zahalené do smogu a já ráno přemýšlel, kolik mrtvých stojů kolem mě ožije. Hardcore, industriální energie, punková nespoutanost, různé ruchy, chladné a odlidštěné rytmy. Ano, takový je mnohdy náš současný svět. Schválně jsem si nastudoval i staré věci, které tahle smečka vydala a hrozně se mi líbí, jak letos pánové a dáma spojují takový ten devadesátkový odér s modernější brutalitou. M.A.C. OF MAD jsou samozřejmě kapelou, která není rozhodně pro každého. Býval jsem také spíše na straně pochybovačů. Jenže mě fascinuje energie, tlak, síla, taková ta drásavost, která se mi při poslechu doslova zadřela do podvědomí. Jako by mě někdo hodil do obrovského mlýnu na maso. Na lopatkách jsou ostré čepele nožů. U novinky si vzpomenete na budoucnost, na ty morbidně krásné chvilky, kdy jste poprvé políbili svého prvního robota. V hlavě máte dávno čipy, které byly původně vyvinuty s dobrým účelem. Jenže znáte to, jako rod máme jednu vlastnost. Dokážeme pokazit všechny dobré úmysly. Já zkrátka a dobře slyším a cítím z téhle nahrávky obrovskou spoustu energie, vzteku, ale také chladu a nihilismu. Jestliže mi potom jejich staré skladby připadaly v některých momentech lehce monotónní, tak letos se nenudím ani chvilku. Včera jsem se na něco zeptal umělé inteligence. Už zase mi lhala, přesto ji mám rád. Víc než některé lidi. Už teď se těším, až půjdu ráno do práce mezi opuštěnými továrními halami. Možná zahlédnu záblesk světla. Stroje jsou připravené. A vy? Nihilistická, brutální, odlidštěná, industriální death hard core punk metalová a robotická vize chladné budoucnosti! Budete restartováni! Nastane naprostá tma!


Asphyx says:

The air was thick with the putrid cold of the sewers. It's very early in the morning, and like every day, I'm walking towards a new day. A dead rat lies by the roadside. I walk on, passing long-abandoned factory buildings. Every time I listen to the new album "Keep Music Evil" (which, incidentally, the band is releasing after a long nineteen years), I have the persistent feeling that old machines are coming to life around me. They were once connected in one deadly network. Noise, pain, accumulated anger - this is totally nihilistic, brutal music that will be best understood by those who often find themselves surrounded by cold machines. 

A long time ago, when the band was formed in the 1990s, I didn't like them at all. I didn't care for this kind of extreme music back then. But this year, it's completely different. Maybe I've changed, but I got hit right in the face. The songs are very well written and have drive. And even though you won't find this style on our website, this is an album that I really need to write about. It's as if we've returned to the days of The Matrix and Terminator. The riffs drip with rotten blood, the robots smile because they took over long ago. Perfectly tuned sound, coldness, humans are no longer the species at the top of the food chain. Anyway, judge for yourself. I recommend turning the volume all the way up. 


I admit that writing about the new album "Keep Music Evil" was a bit of a challenge for me. The mutual transfer really happened when the streets were shrouded in smog and I was wondering in the morning how many dead trees around me would come to life. Hardcore, industrial energy, punk unrestrainedness, various noises, cold and dehumanized rhythms. Yes, this is often what our current world is like. I deliberately studied the old stuff that this band released, and I really like how this year the gentlemen and lady combine that 90s vibe with more modern brutality. M.A.C. OF MAD is, of course, a band that is definitely not for everyone. I used to be on the side of the skeptics. But I am fascinated by the energy, the pressure, the power, the rawness that literally burrowed into my subconscious as I listened. It's as if someone threw me into a giant meat grinder. There are sharp knife blades on the blades. The new album will remind you of the future, of those morbidly beautiful moments when you kissed your first robot for the first time. You've had chips in your head for a long time, chips that were originally developed with good intentions. But you know how it is, as a species we have one trait. We manage to ruin all good intentions. I can clearly hear and feel a tremendous amount of energy, anger, but also coldness and nihilism in this recording. If their old songs seemed slightly monotonous to me at times, this year I'm not bored for a moment. Yesterday, I asked artificial intelligence something. It lied to me again, but I still like it. More than some people. I'm already looking forward to going to work in the morning among the abandoned factory halls. Maybe I'll see a glimmer of light. The machines are ready. Are you? A nihilistic, brutal, dehumanized, industrial death hard core punk metal and robotic vision of a cold future! You will be restarted! There will be complete darkness!



Tracklist:
1. Autodafe (03:50)
2. Young & Beautiful (04:16)
3. Nothing To Hide (04:48)
4. Signal (04:10)
5. Needle In The Head (03:42)
6. Zero Karma (03:02)
7. Unadmin (02:35)
8. Neurodiesel (03:30)

band:
M.A.C. OF MAD is:
jana von habczak - vocals
danger - guitar
narco polo - beats / synths
daniel rodny – synths

guest:
kiNO66Y6 - vocals



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