Cyclone B – War (Advoxya Records)

English:CD-review
  Van Muylem    29 oktober 2024

CB a.k.a Cyclone B is a progressive, self-established and innovative electro-music band from Baltic Estonia, distinguished by the powerful EBM/Industrial driven rhythms of craftily produced synthetic beats on one hand and emotionally Nordic cold and harsh vocals on the other. Since its very start in 1999 Cyclone B owned and gradually developed their unique charismatic virtuosity and stubbornly uncommon approach to the sound design.


I’m sure it’s not the first time you spot this band, right? As I have an Estonian link I couldn’t refuse and surprised the man behind Cyclone B with a few Estonian words …

I know the record company and it’s not the first time I review albums from them. Lately I’m lesser into dark-electro, but as I couldn’t refuse this offer …

I also got this info:

"I would like to tell you a little about this record... This is a very important release for me! Firstly, this is a new work after 15 years of silence and I don’t know how you will perceive it. Secondly, I wrote the album for almost 7 years under the influence of the most severe shocks in my life, which occurred from 2016 to 2020... having lost my closest relatives, having changed 4 or 5 locations of my studio, having changed 3 computers, 4 sound interfaces... Thirdly, I was helped by two new authors, my friends from the USA and Switzerland, who wrote cool poems for the soundtrack and were guided by my ideas of what could be sung. Fourthly, I have not said everything yet, so I am writing the next album!"

Time now for the actual review:

Bombshelter starts nicely with a very repetitive electro minded settings, a dark voice that slowly changes into an industrial minded monstruous voice. It’s Halloween, so it fits the time of the year. Sadly I also know that Estonia is prepping to build more bombshelters and more defensive settings against the old Enemy. I adore Science Fiction, but this is the harsh reality.

Meatgrinder mixes EBM with Industrial and comes close to a mix between Suicide Commando and C-Lekktor.

Ward Nr. 13 is a slow track with monstruous vocals and yet a synth sound that floats. It’s a strange combination: mixing Halloween with a heavenly feel.

Endemic Species is a dark, spooky and scary sounding bad dream.

Fishbowl sounds very experimental and winks towards old school Science Fiction with the spoken words parts.

Endogenius starts with cool stomping beats and a great tempo. The breakdown sounds a bit like a techno interlude. This song might make it in clubland if you add a bit more of testosterone in the vocals.

Thoughtcrime is a slow burner, with halfway a more industrial minded touch.

New Strain has no vocals, has a space minded touch, floats a bit and is not my kind of thing.

War Means War sounds a bit like cool old school wave mixed with harsh vocals and a slice of EBM. A good mix might launch this one into clubland! There is also a SF sample: about needs to make best weapon for unspoken priority among other nations. Quote about this one from CB: "You know, when i've started the album, never been war time, even nobody knew about the covid. But all getting worse, madness becomes real and similar to my fantasies in the songs." 

Wage Slaves has two faces: one is a slow and boring side whilst the other one is a hardcore clubber with a very dark side. I prefer the dark side!

Last Soldier is a soft song, but with a hard message. Just listen to the Russian radio transmission (note: it was written a while ago and here it's a message about: Russian officers asking for help, all of them been lately distroyed by islamists).

I like the cover. It’s a very inspiring one. I heard a few good songs, but I prefer more speeded up music, with more testosterone. Still I’m sure fans of this genre will be pleased! Stay strong Estonia! Stay strong Estonia!

Spotify:

Endemic Species • Cyclone B