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

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)