Cipher Children of Gods Fire
Uprising Records UPR45 2005
By Jason Jordan
Ever hear a band whose music you like but vocals you detest, which ultimately leads to total dismissal? Thankfully, it doesnt happen to me too frequently, though Cipher have managed to sicken me by way of Moe Mitchells vocalizations. Perhaps the most disconcerting thing about Children of Gods Fire is the above-the-bar musicianship that falls on deaf ears due to annoying vox.
The quintet, after I checked out their band photograph, can be grouped in with God Forbid as a result of their diversity, but their music most resembles chaoscore-advocates such as The Dillinger Escape Plan. The buck doesnt stop with the latter, because the rap-infused delivery is reminiscent of early day Candiria, and further credence is added to raps solidification by MF Dooms appearance on Verse Vs. the Virus. Now, Cipher arent bent on leading you through the murky depths of chaos, though, and Children of Gods Fire touches on perfectly coherent metalcore at times. Constantly revisiting Mitchells chords only serves to agitate me, however. It sounds like the frontman simply refuses to enunciate properly, or his slack jaw affects his vocal blasts significantly. Whatever the case and I loathe dwelling on it theyre incredibly grating, and weigh the album down. Time wise, Cipher have unleashed a fifteen-track record that lasts for over an hour.
More often than not, I cant bear absorbing albums that have been dipped in rap, no matter how pleasant the instrumentation is. Couple the aforementioned with the groups political agenda and fucked up vox, and youve got an outing I refuse to endorse. Children of Gods Fire is ambitious, sure, but Cipher still have quite a ways to go before they lure me in without resistance.
6/10
Official Cipher Website
Official Uprising Records Website
Uprising Records UPR45 2005
By Jason Jordan
Ever hear a band whose music you like but vocals you detest, which ultimately leads to total dismissal? Thankfully, it doesnt happen to me too frequently, though Cipher have managed to sicken me by way of Moe Mitchells vocalizations. Perhaps the most disconcerting thing about Children of Gods Fire is the above-the-bar musicianship that falls on deaf ears due to annoying vox.
The quintet, after I checked out their band photograph, can be grouped in with God Forbid as a result of their diversity, but their music most resembles chaoscore-advocates such as The Dillinger Escape Plan. The buck doesnt stop with the latter, because the rap-infused delivery is reminiscent of early day Candiria, and further credence is added to raps solidification by MF Dooms appearance on Verse Vs. the Virus. Now, Cipher arent bent on leading you through the murky depths of chaos, though, and Children of Gods Fire touches on perfectly coherent metalcore at times. Constantly revisiting Mitchells chords only serves to agitate me, however. It sounds like the frontman simply refuses to enunciate properly, or his slack jaw affects his vocal blasts significantly. Whatever the case and I loathe dwelling on it theyre incredibly grating, and weigh the album down. Time wise, Cipher have unleashed a fifteen-track record that lasts for over an hour.
More often than not, I cant bear absorbing albums that have been dipped in rap, no matter how pleasant the instrumentation is. Couple the aforementioned with the groups political agenda and fucked up vox, and youve got an outing I refuse to endorse. Children of Gods Fire is ambitious, sure, but Cipher still have quite a ways to go before they lure me in without resistance.
6/10
Official Cipher Website
Official Uprising Records Website
