Membro Cephalic Symbiosis

I'm reviewing the 5-track version here. I love it, it's a great split where the two bands compliment each other really well.

The three Cephalotripsy songs are much more interesting than their 2007 album, with tempo changes and more interesting structure than slams-only. The music is faster-paced, and really earns the breakdown on "Entrenched in Fluids". "Ulcerated Mass" has a serpentine dissonant riff that's so groovy, and fits well with the grindy second side of the EP. Ochoa's vocals are just as nasty and 'wet' sounding as always and the guitars are pretty crunchy sounding. The drums are a bit low in the mix which is especially undesirable because the music is fast, and you want the drums to help emphasize the speed. At least the triangle still gets heavy use, which is one of the things I enjoyed about the 2007 album.

Production on this side of the album is middle-brow and comparable to Wormed Planisphaerium, not super-clean but not as muddy as Butcher the Weak 05 either.

The second side of the album, Membro Genitali Befurcator, is a deathgrind band so naturally it's moving a lot faster than the slam death first half (even considering Cephalotripsy's material here is fast by their standards). Production is much more raw and the clanging snare drums will smash your brains out. The riffs are really groovy which as I said, compliments the groovy first half of the album. Vocals are a low gurgle growl, not much different than what Ochoa did on the first half.

Of the two songs here, the cover of "I am God" is the highlight - possibly my favorite song on the whole EP. It's a dramatic climax with fast riffs, blasting snare drums and the only guitar solo on the EP, letting you catch your breath with brief chugs before blasting back on the hook. Bang your head, love it.

All in all a fantastic split EP, for anyone who loves nasty music, the slightly different subgenres gel together and ending with a theatrical finisher.