{"id":54550,"date":"2017-04-27T17:59:29","date_gmt":"2017-04-27T22:59:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=54550"},"modified":"2017-04-30T19:59:39","modified_gmt":"2017-05-01T00:59:39","slug":"ceti-snakes-of-eden-music-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2017\/ceti-snakes-of-eden-music-review\/","title":{"rendered":"CETI | Snakes Of Eden"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Alexandra Mrozowska<\/span>
\n– Sr. Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"Alongside breakthrough albums and larger-than-life concert tours, history of Rock music is a history of people behind it \u2013 a sinusoid of camaraderie and conflict, heartbreaking splits, spectacular reunions and personal changes. Inevitable as they all are, they can lead the band towards utter demise \u2013 something we\u2019ve witnessed more than once \u2013 or make it even stronger. Either way, they make a turning point in every music career. It\u2019s something the Polish quintet CETI experienced more than once, having been founded in 1989 and continuing ever since with only two original members on board (the lead singer Grzegorz Kupczyk and keyboard player and backing singer Maria \u201cMarihuana\u201d Wietrzykowska). Their 2014 album Brutus Syndrome<\/em> portrayed the group in another important moment in their twenty-five-plus-years history, given the influx of new blood embodied by the addition of bassist Tomasz Targosz to the line-up. Also, after the release of symphonically tinged (\u2026)perfecto mundo(\u2026)<\/em> (2008) and fairly heavy and modern Ghost Of The Universe \u2013 Behind The Black Curtain<\/em> it was when CETI returned to its classic Heavy Metal roots. It\u2019s no surprise then that the follow-up to 2014\u2019s Brutus Syndrome<\/em>, entitled Snakes Of Eden<\/em>, continues the same stylistic venture. The band couldn\u2019t have possibly gone backwards after all. What may be surprising for some, however, is that the new album is almost entirely written by the youngest member of the band, only four years apart of CETI\u2019s line-up \u2013 Tomasz Targosz. Risky? Maybe. But as Snakes Of Eden proves, it was worth the risk. <\/p>\n

Snakes Of Eden<\/em> has basically all the assets of its predecessor, a particularly strong track being chosen as the opener in both cases. However, while there\u2019s nothing to be criticized about Brutus Syndrome\u2019s \u201cFight To Kill\u201d, the sound of \u201cEdge Of Madness\u201d is more refined, the impression even strengthened by tasteful keyboard passages. \u201c2027\u201d is similar to it with its monumental vocals and heavy, lumbering groove, fortified with the lyrical oneiric vision of apocalypse. Over six minutes of \u201cEmpire Of Loss\u201d could be best described as \u201cepic\u201d as the track builds up from slow, low-key verses into a guitar-fueled crescendo. Another elaborate track on the album is the title one which again juxtaposes slow-ish verses against soaring choruses and majestic keyboard-driven theme. <\/p>\n

Much can be said about the intensity of sound on Snakes\u2026<\/em>. From the very first to the very last note, \u201cFire & Ice\u201d delivers a generous dose of six-string wizardry against tight rhythm section, whereas bass-driven \u201cMidnight Rider\u201d makes it easy for a listener to imagine themselves the eponymous character with its juicy, pulsating groove and fast pace. And speaking of speed-driven, Heavy Metal gallops, treats for fans of such aesthetics come also in the form of \u201cBreak Down The Rules\u201d or a bonus addition to the album, feisty \u201cRock\u2019n\u2019Roll Doctor.” <\/p>\n

There\u2019s also plenty of moments on Snakes Of Eden when the band swaps the Maiden-esque grandiosity with more straightforward Hard Rock sound. \u201cNotes Of Freedom\u201d is such an instance, its \u201880s-tinted, powerful chorus being complemented with some guitar and keyboard wizardry which unmistakably brings back the early CETI sound to mind. A bit Whitesnake-ish in style, the track has certain hit potential to it. However, it still pales in comparison with \u201cWild & Free\u201d. The latter\u2019s shamelessly \u201880s flavor, melodic guitar and infectious groove make it the catchiest moment ever in CETI\u2019s recording history \u2013 or at least, since their 1990\u2019s \u201cHolidays In Agrigento\u201d. A bonus track \u201cFire & Tears\u201d obviously corresponds with the same aesthetics, as it\u2019s, in fact, an early CETI song (\u201cOgien i lzy\u201d) written and recorded in 1989 for their debut album, now re-recorded in English language version and with a current line-up. <\/p>\n

Drawbacks\u2026? The lack of a proper ballad. The only slow-ish moment on Snakes Of Eden<\/em> is an atmospheric piece number seven, entitled \u201cLady From The Dark\u201d. However, after a balladesque first verse, the track morphs into a gallop as fiery as its predecessors. A proper ballad could have possibly contributed to the variety of CETI\u2019s new material, especially that the band\u2019s overall potential in this field has been confirmed many times (the latest addition to their vast catalog of balladry being 2014\u2019s \u201cSomethin\u2019 More\u201d). <\/p>\n

Although expectations after the enthusiastically reviewed Brutus Syndrome<\/em> were high \u2013 to say the least \u2013 Snakes Of Eden<\/em> turns out to be even better than its predecessor. From majestic, keyboard-tinted mid-tempos to outbursts of blazing guitar-driven fury, the sound on the album is marked by richness and intensity. It\u2019s a perfect compromise between the classic and the new, the individuality and the unity, the energy and the experience. Not only does the album give exposure to Targosz\u2019s songwriting talents, but also it portrays the rest of the band in an excellent shape, something many of their counterparts may only hope for. Particularly Grzegorz Kupczyk\u2019s performance on the album leaves a listener with an impression the singer\u2019s never sounded better \u2013 which, more than thirty years into one\u2019s singing career, is hardly a norm. And this fact alone is encouraging enough not only to check out Snakes Of Eden but also \u2013 to reach back into the band\u2019s discography for more exceptional discoveries. <\/p>\n

(Editor\u2019s note: The vinyl edition of the album does not include \u201cEmpire Of Loss\u201d and \u201cBreak Down The Rules\u201d as well as bonus tracks.)<\/p>\n

Genre: Heavy Metal<\/p>\n

Band:
\nGrzegorz Kupczyk \u2013 vocals
\nMaria \u201cMarihuana\u201d Wietrzykowska \u2013 keyboards
\nTomasz Targosz \u2013 bass guitar
\nBartosz Sadura \u2013 guitar
\nMarcin Krystek \u201cMucek\u201d \u2013 drums<\/p>\n

Track List:
\n1.\tEdge Of Madness
\n2.\tNotes Of Freedom
\n3.\t2027
\n4.\tWild & Free
\n5.\tEmpire Of Loss
\n6.\tFire & Ice
\n7.\tLady From The Dark
\n8.\tMidnight Rider
\n9.\tSnakes Of Eden
\n10.\tBreak Down The Rules
\n11.\tFire & Tears (bonus track)
\n12.\tRock\u2019N\u2019Roll Doctor (bonus track)<\/p>\n

Label: Metal Mind Productions<\/p>\n

Website: ceti-gk.com\/en<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: [usr9.5 size=20]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Alexandra Mrozowska – Sr. Columnist — Alongside breakthrough albums and larger-than-life concert tours, history of Rock music is a history of people behind it \u2013 a sinusoid of camaraderie and conflict, heartbreaking splits, spectacular […]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":54553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15128],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-54550","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arcrvws2017"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54550\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}