REVIEW: Cytotoxin - Biographyte

Throughout their back catalogue, Cytotoxin have - varyingly - pulled on many of the greats, invoking elements of Benighted and Stillbirth, whilst incorporating their own unique narrative ability into their music. The German metal band isn’t afraid of exploring long-abandoned ruins that no one else dares to enter. Serving as a haunting reminder of one of the many failures of humanity, on Biographyte the band delves into the tragic tale of Chernobyl. Taking a biographical approach, each track lingers on the lives of those involved, retelling the story of the thousands whose lives were irreversibly changed in one moment.

‘Hope Terminator’ is a strong lead for the album. Eccentric riffs serve as the backbone of the song from the start; they are the core of the RMBK reactor, spiking up at intervals, jumping and fluctuating. These guitars wrack through your body and soul. The vocals (performed by the immensely talented Sebastian 'Grimo' Grihm) function as the graphite of the reactor, the stabilising moderator, calm and continuous. Where some bands falter in the vocal department, Grimo does not, having this sustained ability to perform gravelly, harsh, emotive vocals without any auditory strain, with his great work preserved throughout the rest of this experience. It evokes the boom of Chernobyl, the rush of firefighters swarming to the reactor, ready to unknowingly sign away the rights of their lives to the radiation. 

The second track, ‘Condemnisia’, is equally as powerful. The track builds up this tension through the skilled use of the drums, constantly beating away in the backdrop, until it is palpable in the air. There is a real sense of despair that is thick in this track. At the halfway mark, heavy vocals and bass morph into this dejected suffering of pained cries, possibly a grieving father or one of those youthful firefighters succumbing to the radiation, forcing the listener to come to terms with the despondent nature of the album as a whole. It oozes this nuclear style, culminating in this ticking, reminiscent of a Geiger counter, proving the immense amount of creativity poured into this project. 

‘Deadzone Desert’ is an atmospheric track that breaks away from the typicality of the album. With wind ripping through barren buildings and the clanging of chains, it exemplifies the sheer sense of abandonment that occurred in the forced removal of the citizens of Pripyat. Through a building riff, it transfigures into the intensity rejuvenated by ‘The Everslave’. Potent and powerful, it carries along the narrative expressed in the first track. An angelic instrumental breaks its way in, though, a similar occurrence happening in 'Eventless Horizon', with the listener poised between the afterlife of heaven and the hell of the world below, stuck in this suffering purgatory as Cytotoxin leaves you privy to both experiences. 

Where this album falters, though, is with how jarring and disjointed the music feels at times. The lyrical narrative hesitates at points, becoming fragmented as the vocals are severed from the rest of the track, appearing to sit there stagnantly. Individually, the elements are masterfully crafted. The riffs on this album are skillfully produced by the deft hands of Jason ‘Mathias’ Melidonie and Fabrice 'Fonzo' Töpfer, the bass serving as a booming backbone for the piece, the drumming creating this edge with every hit, and the vocals remain melodic despite their gravelly nature, being strong and sustained throughout. They just don’t merge well. It is like Biographyte is a sandwich; each ingredient is good quality, with cheese sourced from far-off regions of France, Iberico ham from the finest regions of Spain, topped with a variety of home-grown produce. But, when put all together, they simply don’t work that well as a whole, leaving a sour taste. Ultimately, this disconnect is the downfall of this album. It lacks the cohesion that is needed to turn a good release into a great one. 

Still, Cytotoxin’s ability to weave in this intense aggression present in metal into this exploration of the travesty of Chernobyl - whilst still being immensely respectful of the lives lost and the lives still affected by the disaster - is one to be in awe of. They are unparalleled in their unique storytelling dynamic and resounding lyricism. Touring throughout Europe in the upcoming months, this booming federation of nuclear fanatics isn’t one to miss.  

Score: 7/10

Biographyte will be released on April 11th 2025 via Unique Leader Records.

Words: Dylan Milton

Photos: Cytotoxin