I had a hard time reviewing this unit because they have so much elements in their music. This is one band that cannot be pigeonholed into one genre alone. The core elements of their music are thrash, black metal, Gothenburg death and heavy metal with occasional doom/goth twists. And that's not all that's unique from this Barcelona, Spain bred quintet, this band has a female singer. You could say that female singers aren't that uncommon in metal anymore, but their particular singer is. Remember that this is not a doom band but a black/thrash ensemble, which plays at amazing speed with blast beats. And no, vocalist Elena does not growl or screech but she sings in a clean, diva like manner. Now if that isn't a metal first then I don't know what is?! Occasional death growls and black metal screams also adorn the album courtesy of rhythm guitarist Cesc.

Opener "Blood is Life" starts the pace with the speed factor on high already. Slayer-esque riffs blaze through the frantic Dissection-like drum patterns and a menacing scream quickly greets the listener. And Elena kicks in. I can't say that Elena is a perfect singer because there are times when her vocals and delivery does not fit that well with the thrashing but most of the time she really does shine. I could say that her voice is an acquired taste because her singing and phrasings are somewhat of an unorthodox style. She even incorporates the usual crooning utilized by mainstream pop singers. Most of the tracks are very fast and blast beats are abundant. Cesc's shouts are very helpful in adding a lot of contrast to the songs. However, the song "Words I Said" starts slowly with Elena on the fore complete with melodic backing vocals. The heavy metal element is also found here as well as the Gothenburg staccato picking. I could say that my faves are "Blood is Life", "On My Back", "The Princess that Denied Her Throne" and "Nostalgia Storms" because these are the pieces where everything just falls in perfect place and their delivery are just superb. Ninth and final song "Growing Cells" is a full on death metal track without Elena's vocals. This song has controversy written on it because it has a somewhat pro-abortion stance to it. The songs are just busy and boosts with full on dynamics that it leaves the listener guessing as to what will come next. Because of the various styles they use, the outcome is very unpredictable and highly enjoyable.

The beauty of Growing Cells is that the elements and ideas is so cohesive that every riff, whether it be black metal or thrash, sound undoubtedly one. Meaning, they don't sound segregated, forced or just pasted together. Plus, the female vocals add more mystery to the mix. Mad props to lead guitarist, Carles for the intricate riffs and non-compromising leads. The bass, however is very low in the mix but nonetheless a very stable beast in its own right. So, if unconventionality and cutting edge is your thing then I suggest you hunt Growing Cells down and give them a shot. You can reach them through their website at http://come.to/growingcells or you can mail them at growingcells@yahoo.com. The international underground scene is sprouting with countless amount of potential and obscure riches, Growing Cells is definitely one of em.

This review is credited to:
DEATHCRAYON