Asphyx - God Cries
Review: A common mistake in modern art is to confuse symbolic popularity with truth. In this case, a lack of any real direction caused the reformed band with new lineup to seek a crowd-pleaser, choosing self-pity because any form of compassion, empathy or commiseration appeals to those who have given up on themselves. However, for art to endure it must express something larger than the sum of its parts. God Cries cannot do this: it wallows in a one-dimensional emotion, and underscores it with death metal riffing infused with chording and melodies from the emo movement that was gaining momentum contemporarily. Doom metal riffs mixed with surprisingly light heavy metal choruses while a half-crying voice carries it along, this album has nowhere to go so its starting and ending states are the same. Personnel shakeups and death of a beloved father wracked this band, but this excremental album put their career on hold despite being universally praised by labels and the press for its "sensitivity."