Album Review: Cicada the Burrower – Corpseflower (Blue Bedroom Records)

Corpseflower is the most ambitious effort to date by Cicada the Burrower, the solo project of Cameron Davis. Their progressive black metal approach is blended here with AOR and psychedelic moments, with their typical lo-fi sound. The album will be out via Blue Bedroom Records on April 23rd 2021, on cassette and digital formats.

Cicada the Burrower says:

Corpseflower is an album about my experiences as a transgender woman. In an effort to meaningfully convey the raw elegance and visceral spite of these memories, I have blended elements of adult contemporary and extreme metal to create a sound that reflects my deepest, most secret feelings. This record is me at my most naked.

With a ton of personal feeling behind it, it’s very easy to fall in love with Corpseflower before a single note has been played. A ton of heart and soul, something that is made all the more effective across five tracks. Which might not sound like much. However, not only do these five tracks amount to over 30 minutes of music but the music is richly detailed with unusual and unique sounds while being undoubtedly rooted in the blacker side of metal. That much is clear every time Cameron Davis lets rip vocally.

Described as progressive, that might be a bit of an understatement in regards to the eclectic storm that is this album. Pretty and melodic, harsh and cutting, dark and eerie, atmospheric and haunting. There’s so much to unpack with Corpseflower but it’s a joy to do so.

At times, the monumental medley of guitars is all you can focus on. At others, the rawness of the black metal is like taking blows to the head. Together, they create an album that is weird but addictive to listen too. The unique album changes and evolves as each track goes on. Rarely does a tracks start and sound anything like it did come the end. Yet the growth seems so natural that the shifts are barely noticeable.

If all of this wasn’t enough, Corpseflower is an emotional record. Not just because of what Cicada the Burrower exposes here but because of how that comes across. The feeling of a soul being bared is prevalent throughout but there’s an honesty to the music too. Even if this level of progressiveness doesn’t quite hit for you or you enjoy that aspect but could do without the ripping and roaring bursts of black metal. One thing we can all agree on is the impact such honest and naked music has.

Cicada the Burrower – Corpseflower Full Track Listing:

1. The Fever Room
2. Glamour
3. Where Old Crystals Grow
4. Psilocybin Death Spiral
5. Corpseflower

Links

Facebook | Blue Bedroom Records