Cyanide 4 – ‘Amalgama’: Hard Rock at its best!

The Cyanide 4 is a Glam/Hard rock band formed in Athens in 2008, ‘blending’ their influences that range from the glam era of 1980s Los Angeles, with metal elements and a more contemporary sound. Last year the band released their third full-length work, titled “Amalgama”.

A very dynamic record

What to even say first about this record? Talk about the tracks? The performances? The production? Everything is almost flawless, and I write "almost" just to keep some objectivity and not let enthusiasm carry me away. We're talking about a record that reinforces and confirms the view that the Greek scene hasn't just evolved significantly, but keeps churning out noteworthy records that can stand out and make a mark.

“Amalgama", well, is a killer album for the domestic scene, to put it simply and not drag this out. The Cyanide 4 come back into the spotlight full of intensity, appetite and formidable Glam/Hard rock ideas. With this winning triptych, the result can't be anything but good. Especially when you throw creativity into that mix, while on the technical side you've also got a polished, glossy production with character backing it up.

On the music

Now, musically, the Cyanide 4 build the album on their '80s Glam/Hard rock influences, keeping a vintage, old-school flavor running through the tracks, which, despite not stealing the spotlight, colors the songs and the overall result. On this foundation, the band constructs a sound that in quite a few spots leans more toward metal territory, creating a result full of explosiveness, with full-bodied choruses, beautiful melodic lines that stick with you, and sharp riffs. In short, "Amalgama" is an album that in English we'd call catchy and in Greek "piasariko."

So, this is a benchmark album for the domestic scene and a record I'd suggest you rush to hear, if you haven't already.