Cryptodira Genesis Of Error Review
Long Island’s own Cryptodira have just unveiled the third chapter in their evolving sonic saga, new EP titled Genesis of Error. Truth be told, I hadn’t crossed paths with them until this landed in my inbox, but after a few immersive spins, I find myself compelled to dig into their back catalog with intent.
Now, let me be upfront: I don’t usually make time for Prog. I’m not looking to solve equations or navigate labyrinthine time signatures. I want music that transports me, spiritually and emotionally without requiring a compass or a calculator. I crave transcendence, not a textbook.
But Genesis of Error isn’t that kind of Prog. Hell, I’m not even sure I’d call it Prog at all. It leans experimental, yes, textured and thoughtful, but it’s grounded by grit and gut. What keeps me here, what hooks me in, are the moments of unexpected clarity in the chaos, and how the band moves through passages like they’re opening doors to different rooms in the same haunted house.
Take the opener, “No Monuments”, it begins with a feral punch, a blast of jagged aggression reminiscent of something off the ‘Corish family tree. Then, like a serpent uncoiling, it slides into a groove-heavy segment that brushes up against early 2000s Nu Metal, Chevelle comes to mind, and not as a throwaway reference. The juxtaposition is stark but seamless. While both halves of the track land well, it’s the latter section that hits harder for me - melodic, emotionally resonant, and executed with surgical restraint.
“The Same River Twice” is a flash bang at 1 minute and 47 seconds of blistering rage. Screamed vocals slash through muscular riffs, and the brevity only amplifies the impact. It doesn’t overstay its welcome; it just punches you in the mouth and walks off with a laugh.
Finally, the title track “Genesis of Error” encapsulates the EP’s full breadth, an amalgamation of nuance and noise. Here, that Nu Metal undercurrent returns, mingling with razor-wire guitar work and throat-ripping vocal delivery. At its heaviest, the band echoes the fury of The Absence, and that comparison is no slight, they’re a band that continues to push boundaries, and so does Cryptodira. Yet, once again, it’s in the quieter, more melodic moments where this band truly gleams. The emotional clarity, the deliberate phrasing, the way the rhythm section breathes, this is where they transcend genre and just become.
The EP is currently pressed to vinyl, available through the band and, of course, digitally via Bandcamp. I suggest you drop in for a listen, let it spin a few times around your brain, and if it sticks (and it just might), pick up the wax. Genre labels be damned, this is skillfully crafted, emotionally potent music that deserves your ears.