Album Review: – PYOGENESIS – A Century In The Curse Of Time

September 13th, 2015 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [release date 14.08.15]

Pyogenesis are back with “A Century In The Curse Of Time”…their first studio album in over 13 years…but as I’ve never heard of them this isn’t really much of a concern.

The accompanying press release gets a little carried away stating that Pyogenesis “co-invented” the Gothic Metal genre back in the early 1990’s…well for me that would have been bands like Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Type O Negative to name a few…but Pyogenesis…well don’t think so…

Pyogenesis were formed in Stuttgart back in 1991 by vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Flo V. Schwarz and “A Century In The Curse Of Time” is his concept album concerning the change of society under the industrialisation of the 19^th century if the works of Jules Verne were fact and not fiction. Joining Flo for this comeback release is bassist Malte Bauer together with newcomers Jan Räthje on drums and former Prodigy guitarist Gizz Butt.

Opener Steam Paves Its Way (The Machine) introduces proceedings with a spoken steampunk intro before leading into what can only be described as a cross between Spock’s Beard and Slipknot…interesting.

A Love Once New Has Now Grown Old continues in a similar vein of prog-thrash with a detuned bass and relentless drumming. This Won’t Last Forever is totally over the top but has a familiar feel to it that I just can’t put my finger on…maybe a little Iced Earth in here…

…and so it continues…The Best Is Yet To Come has a very spacey feel to it and comes across like the alien love child of Yes and Black Sabbath complete with tweeting birds and a massive church bell…

Lifeless leads from a piano intro into classic Paradise Lost territory with a touch of Eloy blended into the mix. The Swan King is another amalgam of styles jumping from multi-layered harmony vocals through to Killing Joke noise and back again. Flesh And Hair immediately brings a industrialised Thirty Seconds To Mars to mind.

Album closer and title track A Century In The Curse Of Time is an epic 14 minute journey. Mostly instrumental the track passes by in a flash due to its complex nature mixed in with repeated refrains, liberal use of strings, harmony vocals, acoustic guitars…a fine end to a cracking album!

“A Century In The Curse Of Time” is an interesting and thoughtful release that reveals more with each play. A highly impressive comeback from a band I’ve never heard before…

****

Review by Phil Berisford

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THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

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09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
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