Cyaegha - Official Website


Steps Of Descent

United States Country of Origin: United States

Steps Of Descent
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Type: Full-Length
Release Date: 2008
Genre: Death, Grind
1. Ulthar's Decree
2. Mask In Flesh
3. While Sarnath Lies Desolate
4. From The Depths
5. Obduction Sapientia
6. Epiphany of R'lyeh
7. Postmortem Enlightenment
8. Logos Immolated
9. Fuck-Start My Dinner

Review by Alex on September 3, 2021.

WALD KRYPTA put out a relatively decent sophomore full length about 2 years ago that displayed enough potential for the band name to go beyond the faint echoes of so many within the black metal genre. Their method of fusing first and second wave black metal with rock and roll-esque tilted compositions along with their extremely raw sound has supplied the band with enough air to keep them moving at least in the stagnated swamp that is black metal these days. And coming in from the USA, one could not be more satisfied with this effort given the region's obsession with death metal.

Possessed By Nothingness is short; it clocks in at just around the 30 minute mark but does a commendable job of keeping your interests high with lots of memorable melodies and tremolo picking. The drumming is nothing special and is quite repetitive but it works with the raw production and lays down a platform for the riffs to build. The attitude as a whole when combined with the screaming vocals comes across as a violent yet quite melodious and beautiful record. Songs like 'Wind's Anger', 'Drowned Into The Last Realm' and 'Beneath A Dying Sun' take the fury of the scraping vocals and contrast them with sweeping landscapes of melancholic riffs and/or triumphant rhythm sections. Hence though the album may be short, it's a very compact and well thought out effort that echoes beyond its concluding moments.

One could go on saying more, but I'd rather reserve the rest of the praise and good word about Possessed By Nothingness for the listener. It's an album that would easily remind you of the value of simplicity and humbleness.

Rating: 8.2 out of 10

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Review by JD on December 3, 2008.

I researched things behind this band's name, and came up with something interesting. Cyaegha is the name of a mythical beast of hell from what seems to be German folklore. It seems that this beast actually had a cult dedicated to it in a few villages until somewhere around the early 19th century. As I listen to the debut album while looking up the information of the name of the band... I can see why they picked the name. I wanna join the cult now!!

Hailing from the laid-back state Virginia, Cyaegha creeps out of that tranquil and picturesque area and ends up unleashing something that is far removed from that area. Mixing ear bisecting Death Metal with a generous attacking of malevolent Black Metal stylings... this band thunders out and unleashes themselves for the world like a tidal wave of guttural vocals and soaring guitar work.

Uncompromising as anything out there, they also show just how musically tight they truly are. Technically distinguished, Cyaegha show that extreme metal is way more than just a whole lot thrashing going on. I loved the melodies because they were catchy, yet so damned heavy as well, and the way they used influences from HP Lovecraft among other authors.... they have amazingly melded all of that together and have got one of the best metal bands I have came across.

Cyaegha is truly a band that has so much going for them in the intelligence department, not to mention the fire to play amazing music. Truly they are equally thinkers as well as heavy hitters... There is no substitute for either of those in metal. The fact that they possess both in great amounts... makes them so dangerous. So if you want to give your brain a workout, as well as your neck muscles... this is the band that fuels the need for both.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.8 out of 10

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