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Retrospective Review: CIANIDE: HELL'S REBIRTH

CIANIDE: HELL'S REBIRTH

   Cianide solidified their place upon the throne of the Death-Metal underground with their now legendary debut album, The Dying Truth, an album so furiously influential, that it inspired generation after generation of bands to follow in their filthy footsteps. 13 years and a string of releases later, Cianide birthed their 2005 full-length, Hell's Rebirth, an album so heavy and formidable, that it is widely regarded as a highpoint for the band and the Death-Doom sub-genre as a whole, even to this day. 
   The early 2000's were a difficult time for the Metal world, and 2005 in particular was an interesting year for Death-Metal. When Cianide released, Hell's Rebirth, a solid, merciless album of pure Death-Doom fury, the scene it was unleashed upon was not in great health. Although bands such as Six Feet Under and Obituary returned on form in the same year, other legends such as Asphyx and Morbid Angel were really nowhere to be seen. The Death-Metal world needed a hero, a breath of putrefying air to save the faith of the masses, and Cianide answered the call.     
   Hell's Rebirth is a spectacular album, benefiting massively from it's raw, gritty, uncomplicated production. Opening track, "The Age Of Hell's Rebirth" sounds as though it has crawled straight out of 1992, with all the barbaric battery that Cianide are known for. "Death Metal Manic", is the anthemic Motorhead tribute that the scene never knew it needed. Rolling in with copious amounts of groove, neck-breaking speed, sludgy riffs and of course, only the finest quality Death-Doom available, this is a diamond in an album full of gems. 
   "Trust No One" is a full on riff assault, with one of the catchiest, nastiest rhythms in Cianide's arsenal, while following track, "Curse Of The Dead", presents some incredible Thrash style chugging riffs, drenched in Doom and distortion for good measure. "Fires That Consume" is a solid offering of pure, old-school Death-Doom, displaying Cianide's skillful musicianship, on a track that would have sounded right at home on their 1997 opus, Death, Doom And Destruction. The Morbid Angel worshiping, "World Abyss", is as heavy as it is fast, with pummeling walls of intoxicating riffs and intense blast-beats. 
   The long shadow of Motorhead stretches into view once more, as the kickdrum fires up and the low bass notes rumble, introducing "Powerhead", an interesting Death-Doom n' Roll attack steeped in old-school charm. The genius contrast between the penultimate Death-Metal strike, "Sickened To Behold ", and the monolithic Doom soaked closing track, "Wormfeast" is undeniable. The sound achieved on "Wormfeast", can only be described as, Cianide meets Crowbar, taking the sludgy, thick, Doom, to new depths, making a superb track in the process, overflowing with rhythmic groove. 
   The simplicity and stripped-back approach to Hell's Rebirth is part of it's overall attraction, considering that it was released into a scene, and at a time, when complexity, technicality and over complication was desirable. Although Cianide never managed to break-out into the wider attraction like many of their contemporaries, they are still regarded as the kings of the underground, and Hell's Rebirth continues to set the bar very high to this day.


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