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KRYPTOS
Decimator

AFM (2024)
Rating: 7/10

Although this Indian metal act formed in the late 90s, many of you may not be familiar with them. Forming out of Bangalore, Kryptos now features only one original member in Nolan Lewis who started out as guitarist but now provides vocals too. Lewis is joined here by lead guitarist Rohit Chaturvedi, along with session musicians Robin Utbolt (bass, Vicious Rumors / ex-Air Raid) and JJ Tartaglia (drums, Skull Fist / Thunderor).

With their seventh full-length studio album, Decimator, Kryptos don’t sound quite as powerful, especially in the axe department, as previous releases but this is still is a solid record. The lead single from the album was the title cut, a driving if somewhat lyrically clichéd rocker that brings to mind UDO with its snappy vocals and crisp melodies.

The band has always touched upon thrashy nuances when constructing albums, but this time round everything sounds lighter. Maybe it’s the production, but the album lacks punch, especially on songs such as ‘Pathfinder’ and ‘In The Shadow Of The Blade’ which timidly streak and fizzle before impact. The songs are infectious but the tepid nature really does dominate proceedings as ‘Electrify’ and numerous others fall short, and yet I’m engaged throughout probably due to the accessibility of it all.

Standout songs for me are ‘Turn Up The Heat’ with its initial percussive strikes, ‘We Are The Night’ with its steady melody, and ‘Fall To The Spectre’s Gaze’ with its Judas Priest-esque gallop. It’s a shame that the album sounds rather flat because with extra padding and zip this could have been a mighty blast.

Neil Arnold

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