Cerberus - What Have We Become

Cerberus
What Have We Become
Hell and Death
5/10





While it’s impossible to deny the songwriting talent of Cerberus, One gets the impression that they’re stuffed into some sort of practice space while listening to “What Have We Become.” This EP, consisting of five new tracks is a step up from the band’s last full-length in terms of songwriting, but a notch below in terms of sound. Tweaking the mix certainly might have helped, but still, the stuffy sound of the rhythm guitars is noticeable.

Overall, these guys are going for a melodic, At The Gates thing sometimes, and during other, less intense moments, the music’s not too far removed from a death core-influenced Iron Maiden. John Guettler is a fair growler. Gravel-throated screams and guttural grunting are his forte, and he pulls off tracks like “Obsidian” and the EP’s title tune in convincing fashion. The rhythm section is quite tight, specializing in up-tempo thrash beats. There’s even a bit of axe-shredding thrown in for good measure.

But ultimately, it’s hard to get past the rough sound of this EP. The muddy rhythm guitars and slightly-buried vocals do little to enhance the group’s sound, making this an average effort that most metalheads would do well to pass on.


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