Review KRYPTOS “Decimator”

One of the most important ambassadors of Indian heavy metal is Kryptos. Formed in 1998, the band has gained international attention over the years and has released six long-players. With “Decimator” a new album is on the way.

Kryptos’ focus is on traditional heavy metal, and cross-references to NWoBHM are embedded in songs like “Fail to the Spectre’s Gaze”, which follows the dynamic opener “Sirens of Steel”.

A nod to the melodic metal days of the late 80s is provided by ‘Turn Up the Heat’, while ‘Solaris’ is an acoustic interlude that heralds the title track. “Decimator”, the song, is a thumping metal song with a lot of oomph. Great guitar work and a decent level of heaviness is what the title track calls its own.

With nine songs and a running time of just over 30 minutes, Kryptos keep things short and crisp. As the band stays very much within their musical comfort zone, the short running time isn’t too much of a downer. In this sense, the band delivers metal that sounds authentic and is driven by passion. A little more deviation from the standard path would be good though, as it would give the album a bit more of a thrill. Despite sounding good, “Decimator” delivers a lot of the same, just different, and that is the weak point of this release. For the rest, Kryptos are pioneers when it comes to Indian Metal, have a strong beating metal heart and live for their music. What more can you expect?