Artist: Nervecell
Title: Psychogenecide
Type: Album
Label: Lifeforce Records

Do you know what ? I’m sick and bloody tired of metal bands from Dubai. Seriously, my CD collection is cluttered with bands from the emirates and…erm…hang on ? Did someone say Dubai ? Hmm. Turns out that Nervecell are a middle eastern band, which is to be applauded, as they arguably have harsher regimes to contend with than comparable bands in the west, even in the relatively enlightened Dubai.

Predictably enough, Nervecell kick off with an Arabic sounding instrumental piece. I’m torn in two about this: yes, it does sound authentic, but it really has very little else in common with the rest of the album. When I listen to a French band, I don’t expect to hear some plaintive accordion music, nor when I listen to a Meads of Asphodel album am I all of a quiver expecting the album to be book ended by the sound of Ripley ex-miners brass band. Bloody Nile have a lot to answer for. Sanders actually lends his vocals to a track on the album, cameo-hunting fans.

Luckily the rest of Psychogenecide is a bit less typical. Veering between the blasting death metal of, say, Krisiun to a more interesting mid-paced tack on death/thrash metal that actually sounds very accomplished, Psychogenicide is an engaging listen. The frequent dizzying guitar passages are interspersed with some nice polished lead guitar sections, while the drums have that lovely sheen that is generally heard with death metal bands of the Polish school. Probably the biggest complaint is that aside from the tasty middle-eastern flourishes here and there, about 50% of the tracks on the album seemed to wash straight by my ears. A shame, because when they get it just on the mark – as with title track, there is more than enough to hold my interest. Could it be that Nervecell might want to spend a little more time crafting their songs ? Their technical skills and the production are already up to the task. Still, an interesting, if not necessarily essential release.

www.nervecell.net/

Chris Davison

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