CEPHALIC CARNAGE "LUCID INTERVAL"

2013 is wrapping up, and I have spent alot of time this year thinking back to the wonderful time that was 2002. As previously stated, I was living at home and running a tape label at the time. Dial up internet at my parents house was extremely slow, but I made the best of it. In 2002, I spent alot of time buying magazines - Maximum Rock N Roll, Metal Maniacs, Terrorizer, SOD and trading tapes for zines. Another source for discovering new music was a local radio show, run by some former members of Chicago gothic doom band November's Doom. I thank that radio show for introducing me to some fine black metal and stoner rock. The other source was the Razorback Records message board. For anyone that remembers it, will agree that it was a fine source for meeting others interested in noisecore, Impetigo, horror movies, harsh noise, Impetigo and well...Impetigo. Myspace eventually ruined everything, but that's another story.

One album that was constantly praised not only on the Razorback board, but pretty much everywhere at this time was Cephalic Carnage's "Lucid Interval" album. Thankfully during this time I was able to see CC play Chicago pretty much everytime they came through. The band had their now famous classic lineup, and they were on top of their game. Touring relentlessly, they were able to open shows here for Destruction and Kreator, Mastodon and Dysrythmia, while the following month being able to play next to bands like Kungfu Rick, Mortician and Deeds of Flesh. I will always remember their shows during this era and seeing them play these songs while throwing themselves around the stage like deranged lunatics. Lenzig's guttural belching, Jawsh, Zac and Steve's guitar acrobatics and the relentless jazz infused blast beats of John..The brutality these guys showed is yet to be matched at times. This was like watching Exit 13 and Mr. Bungle attempt to play grindcore songs, but their musical ADHD and love for Naked City taking over them. For a bunch of stoned dudes, I don't know how they had this much energy. Sadly, lineup changes and bad musical decisions ruined this band shortly after.

This album is for any fan of grindcore, yet isn't turned off when a band tries something new - like throw in a stoner rock song in the middle of the album, or have ambient and acoustic sections throw in. Even if that sounds like a turn off, I recommend this album for anyone into Exit 13, Naked City, and all in all well performed deathgrind that is extremely tight. This is the last testament to a band that was innovative and at their creative peak, on a label that was exiting it's own golden age.