In the last few years Death Metal has been thriving in sunny Greece like never before and whether if its supreme unholiness à la DEAD CONGREGATION, American influenced brutality (e.g. EXTREME VIOLENCE, MASS INFECTION) or progressive-tinged bands like SICKENING HORROR or THE CIRCLE OF ZAPHYAN, there’s something rotten in the state of Greece and it sounds f**king great most of the time. Fortunately, CEREBRUM are not an exception from this development and feature in their ranks Apollyon Z. on vocals (also in THE CIRCLE OF ZAPHYAN, who’s last demo I reviewed somewhere on this website, good stuff!!!) and as session drummer George Kollias (NILE, SICKENING HORROR…). Musically, CEREBRUM refer heavily to classic 90s technical Death Metal like the second GORGUTS album, DEATH, PESTILENCE, NOCTURNUS, POLLUTED INHERITANCE whereas lyrically fans of sci-fi influenced apocalyptic scenarios should instantly feel at home on “Spectral Extravagance”. Whereas many “technical” or “progressive” acts lose control of their songs in masturbatory, narcissistic shred-orgies, CEREBRUM keep their song structures tightly knit by a well balance of straight brutality and technical elements and never overtax the listener. Kollias formidable drum playing invites you to enjoy fascinating rhythms and fills, the riffing is strongly song-oriented and comprehensible throughout the entire album, easily shifts from heavy crunch to almost jazzy figures and leads and an additional attractive part of this opus. Apollyon Z.’s vocals are extremely well understandable, his growl can be placed somewhere between Ross Dolan, David Vincent and Patrick Mameli and at times he even utilizes a slightly morbid clean voice (e.g. in ‘Scatter-Brain’, ‘Intolerable Ado’) which has a highly disturbing effect and adds another interesting nuance to this album. Production-wise I can not find a single reason for complaint – it’s clear, heavy, not sterile at all, to the point and organic, well done! One funny thing about the cover art: just compare it to the one of DARKTHRONE’s “Soulside Journey” – that’s what I call an obvious parallel! Overall an excellent album for people who are pissed off by bands mistaking inhuman speed and millions of pinch harmonics as “progressive” and generally embrace classics such as “Human”, “Erosion Of Sanity” or “Testimony Of The Ancients”. Get this! Band: www.myspace.com/cerebrum, label: www.laceratedenemy.com