Review by Wetworks

I have been waiting a long time for this album and I must say the wait was well worth it! "Transhuman" is the new release from Indiana's harsh electronic-metal band Cyanotic. This new album is the first full length from the band and a great successor to the stellar "Mutual Bonding Through Violation" EP. Cyanotic show a lot of maturity on this new CD and the production value is great, thanks to the guys over at Cracknation (www.cracknation.com) and Chris Cozort of Iammynewt (www.iammynewt.com). Now just becuase the sound has gotten cleaner don't start thinking that this album will be soft, in fact it is thicker, heavier and harsher than the EP. "Transhuman" features loads of genre experimentation, everything ranging from industrial rock, drum 'n' bass, power noise, electro, glitch and hip hop. The whole album feels very thick all the way through and there is never a dull moment. You will be breaking shit up til the last track here, folks.

The albums starts off with the intro track "Frequency In Cycles". A one minute ride through harsh noisescapes, deep drums and one sample that sums it all up, "I'm sure there is going to be more than one unpleasant surprise before we're done.", and with that kicks in the second track "Order Out Of Chaos". Heavy bass drops, speedy d'n'b breaks, harsh synthlines and chunky glitched guitars dominate this song with Sean Payne's distorted screams screeching along to the glitchy programming. This song is just dying to be played in a live setting. There is no possible way to sit still to it and hence making it a great opening track. And with that bleeds in the next track, "Insurgance". This anthem style track is very guitar heavy and brings to mind old school Hanzel Und Gretyl. Cyanotic's talent in making a guitar heavy song shines while keeping the electronics very audible and thick. Strategic bass drops, pummeling beats and great vocal samples will have your fists pumping through out. Up next is the title track, "Transhuman". This tracks starts off with a building dark atmosphere and kicks right into coldwave bliss. A beat heavy song with great synths and a slower pace. This track shows the more electro side of Cyanotic. "Deface" is the next track and is the dancier song on the album, with its pusling four-on-the-floor beats and trance style synthwork. Now just because it's dancier than the other tracks does not mean this song is any less aggressive. The vocals are meanier than ever on this song, the beats are made to pummel and the guitars are just as unrelenting. Up next is the surprise song of the album, "Axiom", which shows Cyanotic treading into unfamiliar ground, working with a darker, slower style and pulling it off with utter perfection. This song features a haunting bass-line with some amazing ambient synthwork and film score samples playing through out. The programming in this song is very intricate and well done. The song soon blows up into a guitar frenzy with alarms buzzing loud and Sean Payne's horroring yells. An awesome track sure to stay on my favorites list for a long time to come. "Suspension Of Disbelief" comes next and starts off with a catchy synth line which breaks into some great industrial-metal. Glitching vocals. great bass synthwork and chugging guitars are dominant. The guitar glides along with the synths perfectly. "Actuator" is a 2 minute instrumental which features great industrial style programming with a light breakbeat and movies samples laced throughout. "Sensory Deprivation" is a straight on industrial-rock song. Grinding guitars and twisting synthlines dominate with a catchy chorus line that will have you rocking out, another personal favorite. "Beta Blocker" is all about the breakbeats, bass drops and deep synths. Guitars take the back seat on this track, although still a big part, the instruments and voices are highly manipulated. Another great example of the variation of styles. Simply put -- awesome track. "Antithesis" comes barelling in next with its pounding beats, harsh guitars blaring and piercing distorted screams. A true coldwave anthem -- heavy, harsh and noisy sums this song up. "Higher States Of Consciousness" is the final track on the album, trip-hop inspired with a tons of glitching breakbeats and great atmospheric programming lead this great album to an end.

Sean Payne, Drew Rosander and Brian Blake have written a great album that will appeal to both old school and new school Industrial fans. It will make you feel nostalgic but also retains a new edge sound that will have you begging for their next album. This album is highly recommended to those that are bored with the bland Futurepop and Synthpop scenes and want some good harsh electronic music to get their blood flowing.