CELINA - Origins

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

CELINA’s Origins is a blistering, uncompromising slice of raging cyberpunk power and dramatic tension. Shadowy atmospheres are battered by gargantuan drums and ravening bass while danger and threat pour from every element of the album. CELINA shows no quarter in creating ferocious, hard-hitting music that goes on the attack.

The sheer ferocity of the aural assault on Origins gives it a strong appeal to me. I want cyberpunk that is raw, unapologetic and raging and CELINA obliges here. The combination of the serrated slabs of bass and massively powerful drums create an underpinning for the aggressive synth melodies and jagged soundscapes that unfold in the music.

Atmosphere plays a strong role in my enjoyment of Origins as well. There’s an oppressive feeling of danger that fills the music along with a shadowy miasma created by mysterious sonic elements. On top of that, there is the anger and force of the drums and bass. The end result is enjoyably seething darkness mingled with unrelenting rage.

I am also drawn to the synth palette that CELINA has chosen on the album. She skilfully mingles a plethora of unique synth sounds to create slashing power, dramatic tension and fill the music with an umbral miasma. The use of contrast and layering results in an ear-grabbing musical depth in the music.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"Corrupted By You” opens as terrifying, jagged bass shards slash into the music along with a voice over echoing out into the void. Tiny, elevated synth sounds tremble and hollow drums pulse. Howling noise breaks out and massive bass throb adds a pleasing groove as it pushes the music forward. Shattering sounds break above the bass, forming their own cutting pulse as the drums stutter and smash.

A ticking sound moves and massive bass heaves as the voice over echoes out. Angry synth tumbles in an uneven pulse as swinging bass throbs. Battering drums are touched by shimmering, elevated synth and angular, medium-high notes shiver over undulating, razor sharp bass. The track ends on a spinning arpeggio and a demonic voice.

Descending sound sweeps in above rumbling bass slabs and the sound of a Geiger counter to start “Biowaste.” A wide-sounding keyboard plays worried notes that fall above growling, weighty bass.

A medium-high synth volleys back and forth as drums accelerate above attacking bass. Fat, synth carries a crushing melodic pattern that effectively exudes dark victory above juddering bass and guiding drums. An open segment with the ominous piano playing worried notes, the sound of computerized warning and a Geiger counter adding to the sense of danger before unsettled synths vibrate.

Again towering bass punches into the music below a wandering, high synth and the drums burst as the ferocious bass drives on with sledgehammer weight.The wide synth fades out along with the massive bass.

Threatening bass fills the space below melancholy, haunted synth to kick off “Ghost.” Metallic notes trickle and the bass becomes an undulating heartbeat as the hard-hitting drums smack into the music.

The bass has a dynamic pulse as tense, elevated string-like synth floats with pained emotion and drums splash against growling bass. Echoing, lost sounds flash out but the dominant feeling is one of incredible weight pressing onward. Darkly shaded, aching synth moves above torn up sonic shards and unrelenting bass weight.

Tense, high synth screams out a warning. I am drawn to the way in which a sense of impending doom fills the track here. An angular synth pattern ramps up the tension above jumping bass that shoves onward with intimidating power as hollow sounds vibrate above it.

“Godlike” begins as a cacophonous sonic crush rushes in and haunted, distant sounds drift through the openness around them. Gleaming chimes flash and a snare drum slowly ticks as rising, slowly oscillating synth pulses with dangerous intent.

Enormous, heavily throbbing drums and bass form an immense wall of propulsive sound, while a rough-edged synth snarls. Quick, raised synths ring out and a tambourine briefly rattles. The jagged drums and bass charge hard while high chimes flicker. Wide, medium-high synth trumpets out in a minor key melody with a shadowy twist while bruising drums and bass pound in.

A descending, ghostly segment in which distant synths tremble and spectral noises float is cut by growing percussion and heaving bass. Intense power effectively seethes under a slowly revolving arpeggio and drums and bass smash along with the metallic tambourine. Lacerating synth tears in above attacking percussion and muscled bass.

An expanding, ragged-edged synth pulse leaps in as mournful strings tremble to open “Hexalite.” Thumping bass drives forward as the tearing synth cuts into the track. The bass is like a living creature as it surges. Dense, medium-low synth plays a forceful melodic pattern while the bass stabs shredding claws into my chest.

CELINA has a talent for creating terrifying power and unbelievable weight in her music. A flowing bass void yawns below slowly shifting notes of tremendous size carry a violent melodic pattern. Muscle-bound bass sledgehammers the listener in the face. The track's sheer energy is overwhelming, even staggering.  Medium-high synth exudes urgency and menace while the bass and drums are unstoppable.

“Human Nature” commences as a slowly revolving, distant arpeggio turns as a whispering voice is tinged by sinking bass. A twisting, distorted synth pulse grumbles as gigantic bass drops. A propulsive, jumping drum and bass pulse forces the track forward while medium-high synth whiplashes through and a demonic voice speaks of human destruction.

A quieter, restrained segment comes in, seething with whispers. A high synth volleys nervously as throbbing, shuddering drums and bass press on. High sounds cry out above the massive melody pattern bouncing underneath. I enjoy the sense of gigantic energy charging through this track. The music ends on a mournful, worried arpeggio and a bass drop.

A rushing void of rough-edged bass shivers beneath trumpeting, indistinct higher sounds to bring “A Hero Born” to life. Martial drums pound and shudder as the bass bites with ripping fangs and the drums become a full frontal assault.

Elevated sounds with a rounded feeling shift and popping noises float above the drum and bass tide. Bright, medium-high synth flashes out and a gently uplifting melody touches the music with more hopeful elements. This momentary respite in the album’s ferocity heightens the softer emotions in the melody here.

After a rushing drum fill, overpowering bass shoulders into the music and pushes it along as technological synth sounds vie with richer, more warming notes that flow gently into silence, tinged with yearning.

Conclusion

Origins lives in a sonic world that evokes technological peril and a sense of intense anger. The music is unsparing and raging, leaping right out at the listener with bared metal fangs and claws of malicious code. I enjoy the fact that CELINA doesn’t hold back on the album, but lets listeners take the full brunt of the aural attack.