EP REVIEW: Known Unto God – Cyclone
CYCLONE aren’t exactly a household name nowadays, but there was a brief period where they could have been contenders. The Belgian thrashers caught the eye of Roadrunner Records during the eighties, and their Brutal Destruction album was a minor hit in the underground metal scene. They were soon overshadowed by the viciousness of bands like KREATOR and disbanded in 1990, after the release of their sophomore album.
They made an unlikely return in 2018 however and have enjoyed a quiet comeback. They’ve toured and played festivals but remain relatively obscure, and it’s taken them eight years to record any new material. From an outsider’s perspective, CYCLONE’s second run seems to be about old friends getting together and having a good time, rather than a determined shot at stardom.
It’s somewhat fitting therefore that Known Unto God is fun, but hardly essential. This five-tracker is bigger than the average EP but not long enough to qualify as an album, and it’s okay. Not incredible, not terrible. It’s…you know, fine. It’s fast and energetic, and unlike a lot of European thrash, the NWOBHM influences are impossible to miss. Singer Guido Gevels has an impressive voice, and there’s a few tasty guitar riffs to be found.
But it’s also interchangeable. The opening Eliminate is closer to the melodic likes of FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, than the sadistic vehemence of SODOM or SUICIDAL ANGELS. It’s a perfectly acceptable thrash metal song, but it’s also not strong enough to make you want to go out and hunt down their older stuff.
The same goes for the title track, Nothing Is Real, The Truth Lies, and I Fear Myself. CYCLONE are blatantly enjoying playing together, but none of these songs are strong enough to permanently sear them into your brain. They’re all largely similar and could have been rearranged in any order without changing the vibe of the record.
This has the end result of making Known Unto God an inoffensive but inessential release. Thrash metal completists will want to check this out, especially considering how long it’s been since CYCLONE released anything, but it’s hard to imagine anyone else being overly excited. There’s nothing wrong with it, but unless you’re a complete newcomer to the genre, this is unlikely to leave a lasting impact.
There’s something wholesome about them reuniting after three decades in the wilderness, but this feels more like something the band released for themselves rather than anyone else. Hats off to them, and we hope they’re enjoying their new era, but chances are they’ll return to obscurity.
Rating: 6/10
Known Unto God is set for release on February 6th via High Roller Records.
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