Cerebus Effect

Acts of Deception

Label: Emkog Country: USA

"Cerebus Effect grabs you by the neck from the first note and doesn't let go until the very last. Their music is a frenetic, intense and very high energy blend of heavy progressive rock and jazz fusion, played at NASCAR speeds by four exceptionally skilled musicians. Not for the faint of heart are these guys - if you're looking for something tranquil, calming and mellow, Acts of Deception isn't it; but if you want firepower, there's plenty to spare.

Highlights abound: for example, check out the quasi-spoken word vocals on the five-minute raveup Identity Crisis, mixed low and just barely keeping up with the explosive rhythm section - it's just about the only way one can imagine vocals being added to their music, and as such is surprisingly effective; or, for even more thrills and chills, there's Illusions, which is kind of like The Ride of the Valkyrie being run on fast-forward through a possessed tape player. On the other hand, Of Mortal Constraints, with its highly melodic bass and guitar solos, does afford a few moments for the band and the listener to catch a breath. The album's centerpiece is the exhausting, yet exhilarating eleven-and-a-half minute opus Operation Midnight Complex, a musical Tilt-a-Whirl ride of epic proportions that again features those bizarre vocals, albeit briefly, between powerful ELP-meets-Dream Theater instrumental passages. As you might expect, the dynamics vary more on this long track: there's even a surprise acoustic guitar solo that sneaks in during a slightly slower part that's also laden with synthesizers and electric piano, and the classically-influenced piano solo near the end of the track is also a nice touch. The band lets up not a whit on the electric-piano and guitar-fueled fusion workout Nine Against Ten, (which also features a terrific bass solo) and then veers into exploratory jam territory on the short but involving Neutrino Flux, with stellar playing from all involved. The beautiful Unconsoled provides another breather with its lovely acoustic guitar, piano and synthesizers,before the disc closes with the angular, Rush-like W, a high-octane affair that bookends the album nicely with the opening track, Y.

Fittingly, I have three letters for this scorcher of an album: WOW. If you like high-intensity, no-hold-barred, no-compromises (or apologies) prog and fusion, then you need to obtain a copy of Acts of Deception immediately if not sooner. Highly recommended."-JeffG, Prognosis