Cryptic Shift
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Short description|English metal band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Cryptic Shift
| image =
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| alias =
| origin = Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
| genre = {{flatlist|
| years_active = 2013–present
| label = Metal Blade, Blood Harvest
| associated_acts = Slimelord
| website =
| current_members = Xander Bradley
- Joss Farrington
- John Riley
- Ryan Sheperson
| past_members = *Rob Castle
- Hokumu Blitzkreig
- Henry Parker
- Joe Bradley
| module =
| module2 =
| module3 =
}}
Cryptic Shift (formerly stylized as Crÿptic Shift) is an English extreme metal band formed in Leeds, West Yorkshire in 2013. They have two EPs and two demos, with their debut album Visitations from Enceladus being released on 4 May 2020 through Blood Harvest records. In an article for The Quietus, the album was referred to as "damn near essential, and proof that [Britain] has a valid contribution to make to this new wave of progressive death metal".
History
The members of what would become Cryptic Shift began working on writing music together at the beginning of 2010, while they were all in High School. The band was officially formed in 2013{{cite web |title=Cryptic Shift Interview- May 2017 |url=https://planetmosh.com/cryptic-shift-interview-may-2017/ |accessdate=31 May 2020 |archive-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201101636/https://planetmosh.com/cryptic-shift-interview-may-2017/ |url-status=live }} by guitarist Xander Bradley, drummer Ryan Sheperson, vocalist Rob Castle and bassist Hokumu Blitzkreig. The group released their debut demo tape Old Chapel Demos in 2014, however soon after, Castle departed from the group, leading to Bradley taking on the addition role of vocalist, and the hiring of Henry Parker as an additional guitarist. Around this time, the band underwent what Bradley considers a "reincarnation", where the band began "a new focused sound and much improved mindset". In 2015, Parker departed from the group, being replaced by John Riley. This line-up recorded the demo tape Beyond The Celestial Demo the same year, followed a few months later by a split EP with Beastial Invasion. On 27 November 2015, their debut single Deathcrusher was released.{{cite web |title=Cryptic Shift |url=http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/band.php?band_id=11748 |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=24 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524072211/http://metalstorm.net/bands/band.php?band_id=11748 |url-status=live }} The track was then included on their debut EP, released on 1 April 2016, titled Beyond the Celestial Realms.{{cite web |title=Cryptic Shift – Beyond The Celestial Realms |url=https://skullfracturingmetal.com/2016/02/cryptic-shift-beyond-celestial-realms/ |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=28 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228144251/https://skullfracturingmetal.com/2016/02/cryptic-shift-beyond-celestial-realms/ |url-status=live }} On 3 February 2016, they opened for Exodus at Fibbers in York.{{cite web |last1=Lowery |first1=Matthew |title=Exodus / Lost Society / Cryptic Shift – Live Review – 03/02/16 |url=http://www.theyorker.co.uk/arts-and-culture/exodus-lost-society-cryptic-shift-live-review-030216/ |accessdate=31 May 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927140300/http://www.theyorker.co.uk/arts-and-culture/exodus-lost-society-cryptic-shift-live-review-030216/ |url-status=live }} Parker departed from the group in 2017, succeeded by guitarist Joe Bradley. On 28 April 2017 they released they released the single Cosmic Dreams.{{cite web |last1=Yardley |first1=Miranda |title=Listen to the new Cryptic Shift single 'Cosmic Dreams' |url=http://www.terrorizer.com/news/cryptic-shift-release-video-cosmic-dreams/ |website=Terrorizer |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=8 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608225442/http://www.terrorizer.com/news/cryptic-shift-release-video-cosmic-dreams/ |url-status=live }} Their debut full length album Visitations from Enceladus was released on 4 May 2020 through Blood Harvest Records.{{cite web |last1=Hickman |first1=Langdon |date=May 18, 2020 |title=Cryptic Shift Deliver "Visitations From Enceladus" to Turn Death-Thrash Into High Art |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/cryptic-shift-visitations-from-enceladus-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606145848/https://www.invisibleoranges.com/cryptic-shift-visitations-from-enceladus-review/ |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |accessdate=30 May 2020 |website=Invisible Oranges}} Metal Hammer named it as the 13th best metal album of 2020.{{cite web |title=The 50 best metal albums of 2020 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-50-best-metal-albums-of-2020/4 |website=Metal Hammer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=12 March 2021 |date=8 January 2020 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118043046/https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-50-best-metal-albums-of-2020/4 |url-status=live }}
Musical style
The band have been categorised as death metal,{{cite web |last1=Selzer |first1=Jonathan |title=UK death metal deviants Cryptic Shift enter an unhinged new universe |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/uk-death-metal-deviants-cryptic-shift-enter-an-unhinged-new-universe |website=Metal Hammer |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=17 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517020842/https://www.loudersound.com/features/uk-death-metal-deviants-cryptic-shift-enter-an-unhinged-new-universe |url-status=live }} thrash metal,{{cite web |last1=SCHAFER |first1=JOSEPH |title=Mining Metal: Ara, Cryptic Shift, Goden, Lascar, Mekong Delta, Oozing Wound, Patrons of the Rotting Gate, Xibalba |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/05/mining-metal-may-2020/ |accessdate=31 May 2020 |archive-date=18 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618172521/https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/05/mining-metal-may-2020/ |url-status=live }} and technical death metal,{{cite web |last1=Whelan |first1=Kez |title=Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal For April Reviewed By Kez Whelan |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/28137-oranssi-pazuzu-gnaw-their-tongues-testament-heavy-metal-album-review |website=The Quietus |accessdate=30 May 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Pearce |first1=Dutch |title=Track Premiere: Cryptic Shift – "(Petrified in the) Hypogean Gaol" |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2020/04/07/track-premiere-cryptic-shift-petrified-in-the-hypogean-gaol/ |website=Decibel |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922185835/https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2020/04/07/track-premiere-cryptic-shift-petrified-in-the-hypogean-gaol/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Norman |first1=Joseph |title=REVIEW: CRYPTIC SHIFT – VISITATIONS FROM ENCELADUS |url=https://www.echoesanddust.com/2020/05/cryptic-shift-visitations-from-enceladus/ |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=6 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606005943/https://www.echoesanddust.com/2020/05/cryptic-shift-visitations-from-enceladus/ |url-status=live }} often incorporating elements of jazz, progressive metal, doom metal, noise music, psychedelic rock{{cite web |title=Cryptic Shift – "Visitations From Enceladus" |url=https://everythingisnoise.net/reviews/cryptic-shift-visitations-from-enceladus/ |accessdate=31 May 2020 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019161525/https://everythingisnoise.net/reviews/cryptic-shift-visitations-from-enceladus/ |url-status=live }} latin music{{cite web |last1=STASIS |first1=SPYROS |last2=POSCIC |first2=ANTONIO |title=MetalMatters: May 2020 - Adapting to Reality |url=https://www.popmatters.com/metalmatters-may-2020-best-metal-2646243512.html?rebelltitem=7#rebelltitem7 |website=PopMatters |access-date=13 December 2020}} and black metal.{{cite web |last1=Lovdahl |first1=Ian |title=Album Review: Cryptic Shift – Visitations from Enceladus |url=https://www.indymetalvault.com/2020/05/20/album-review-cryptic-shift-visitations-from-enceladus/ |accessdate=30 May 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Dom Lawson for Metal Hammer described them as "phenomenal technological astro-death".{{cite journal |last1=Lawson|first1=Dom |title=Cryptic Shift |journal=Metal Hammer |date=28 May 2020}} Echoes and Dust writer Joseph Norman said they are "progressive without being proggy, without being Opeth" and "a pitch-perfect balance of death and thrash sensibilities". The Quietus stated that are reviving an "early 90s wave of progressive death metal".{{cite web |last1=Whelan |first1=Kez |title=Columnus Metallicus: The Best Heavy Metal Of 2020 |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/29321-the-best-heavy-metal-2020 |website=The Quietus |access-date=13 December 2020 |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230725094444/https://thequietus.com/articles/29321-the-best-heavy-metal-2020 |url-status=live }}
Echoes and Dust writer Joseph Norman referred to them as the "most innovative, tech-death-thrash band that the UK has to offer" and their debut album as "Death metal teams with the tentacled, extra-dimensional monsters of pulp science fiction and space opera, and the weird tales of Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and Robert Howard". In an article for Metal Hammer writer Jonathan Selzer described their debut album as "a visionary, fully-realised assault on the senses whose preview tracks released so far have already put the underground's knickers in a physics-defying twist". In a PopMatters article, it was stating that they are "modernizing the best that retro extreme metal has to offer".
Their releases often include overarching lyrical themes and stories about astronomy and outer space with technical musicianship, elaborate song structures and death growls. In an interview for Distorted Sound, vocalist Xander Bradley stated that "There's sci-fi sound FX, a ton of solos and plasma. There's also an extremely in-depth accompanying space adventure tale told within the lyrics, artworks and beyond". The story told on 2020's Visitations From Enceladus even having begun on 2017's Cosmic Dreams.{{cite web |last1=Weller |first1=Phil |title=Cryptic Shift – Visitations From Enceladus |url=http://www.manchester.rocks/blog/ltxs578am2nba4ygldj34a7hl3hhkx |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=7 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507230235/http://www.manchester.rocks/blog/ltxs578am2nba4ygldj34a7hl3hhkx |url-status=live }} An article for Toilet ov Hell stated that "Thematically, while science fiction has always had an undeniable presence in death metal it's now more vital than ever in a time when the genre is starving for a path forward beyond tongue-in-cheek shock-n-shlock tedium without having to abandon the grim, foreboding atmosphere that carried it for years" Elements such as guitar hooks, abrupt tempo changes, atmospherics, melodic passages.{{cite web |last1=Sanders |first1=Brad |title=The Best Metal on Bandcamp: May 2020 |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-metal/the-best-metal-on-bandcamp-may-2020 |website=Bandcamp Daily |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607062123/https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-metal/the-best-metal-on-bandcamp-may-2020 |url-status=live }} dissonance and harmonies are commonplace.{{cite web |last1=Duvall |first1=Zach |title=Cryptic Shift – Visitations From Enceladus Review |url=https://yourlastrites.com/2020/05/04/cryptic-shift-visitations-from-enceladus-review/ |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=14 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514233620/https://yourlastrites.com/2020/05/04/cryptic-shift-visitations-from-enceladus-review/ |url-status=live }}
They have cited musical influences including the Faceless, Vektor, Atheist, Martyr, Gorguts, Death, Obscura, Revocation,{{cite web |last1=McHugh |first1=Dan |title=Cryptic Shift: The Imminent Invasion |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/cryptic-shift-the-imminent-invasion/ |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=7 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507232425/https://distortedsoundmag.com/cryptic-shift-the-imminent-invasion/ |url-status=live }} Pestilence, John Williams, Atrocity{{cite web |title=Damim and Cryptic Shift pick their favourite tech death releases! |url=https://www.ztmag.com/news/damim-and-cryptic-shift-pick-their-favourite-tech-death-releases/ |accessdate=31 May 2020 |archive-date=28 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428120451/http://www.ztmag.com/news/damim-and-cryptic-shift-pick-their-favourite-tech-death-releases/ |url-status=live }} Morbid Angel, Dead Brain Cells, the Chasm, Timeghoul, Sadus and Nocturnus, and stated their lyrics are influenced by the video games Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Distorted Sound writer Danny Sanderson described them as "the UK's answer to Death" and as well as "Mixing together the best of classic thrash and death metal, and coupling the progressive leanings of Atheist and Gorguts with the stunning musicality of the likes of Control Denied and the aforementioned Death".{{cite web |last1=Sanderson |first1=Danny |title=ALBUM REVIEW: Visitations From Enceladus – Cryptic Shift |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-visitations-from-enceladus-cryptic-shift/ |accessdate=30 May 2020 |archive-date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516181434/https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-visitations-from-enceladus-cryptic-shift/ |url-status=live }}
Discography
=''Visitations from Enceladus''=
{{Infobox album
| italic_title = no
| name = Visitations from Enceladus
| type = studio
| artist = Cryptic Shift
| cover =
| alt =
| released = May 4, 2020
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
| length = 46:32
| label = Blood Harvest
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
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}}
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| total_length = 46:32
| title1 = Moonbelt Immolator
| length1 = 25:56
| title2 = (Petrified in the) Hypogean Gaol
| length2 = 7:20
| title3 = The Arctic Chasm
| length3 = 7:46
| title4 = Planetary Hypnosis
| length4 = 5:30
}}
==Personnel==
Cryptic Shift
- Xander Bradley – guitar, lead vocals
- Joss Farrington – guitar
- John Riley – bass
- Ryan Sheperson – drums
Additional personnel
- Jack Helliwell - recording, mixing
- Damian Herring – mastering
=Other releases=
;EPs
- Split EP with Beastial Invasion (2015)
- Beyond the Celestial Realms (2016)
;Singles
- Deathcrusher (2015)
- Cosmic Dreams (2017)
;Demos
- Old Chapel Demos (2014)
- Beyond the Celestial Demo (2015)
Members
;Current
- Xander Bradley – guitar (2012–present), lead vocals (2014–present)
- Joss Farrington – guitar (2020–present)
- John Riley – bass (2015–present)
- Ryan Sheperson – drums (2012–present)
;Past
- Rob Castle – lead vocals (2012–2014)
- Hokumu Blitzkreig – bass (2012–2015)
- Henry Parker – guitar (2014–2017)
- Joe Bradley – guitar (2017–2020)
=Timeline=
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