Track Listing:
1.In Perfection (4:34)
2. 24 Hours Left( 4: 17)
3. What If (3:45)
4. State Unknown (3:51)
5. Central Tunnel Eight (3:48)
6. Life Surrounds (4:19)
7.C.S.I. (5:31)
8. Sufferstream (3:38)
9. Receive, Retrieve and Escalate (4:12)
10. Complete (4:08)
11. Control H (Outro) (3:22)
Total Time: 45: 25

label: Lifeforce Records, 2004
Recorded and mixed in Studio Fredman
Produced by Patrik J sten
Released the 2nd of november 2004


MEMBERS:
Daniel - Vocals
Johan - Guitars
Magnus - Guitars
Henric - Bass
Pontus - Drums
Peter - Electronics

Cipher System debut with Central Tunnel 8, a strong slab of melodic death metal from this Swedish sextet. Sounding like early Soilwork, and incorporating minimal though effective clean vocals and keyboards, this band has in one album seemingly done what some of the big names in the scene haven't yet been able to manage. What I'm talking about is that Cipher System has created dynamic music that's both heavy and coherent, without sacrificing anything. I don't feel like Central Tunnel 8 would be any better - and it would probably be less effective - without the keys and clean vox.

The opener, "In Perfection" kicks things off heavily and succinctly before the band really lets their secret out with "24 Hours Left," "What If" and the brooding and beautiful "State Unknown," whose main melody line sounds more Finnish than Swedish. By this time we've reached the title track, and the band has slowed things down a little and added an excellent chorus and plenty of opportunity for the guitarists to show what they're made of.

"Life Surrounds" and "C.S.I." follow with still more guitar heroics and more melodies than you can count, while "Sufferstream" and "Receive, Retrieve & Escalate" take some of the group's older material (from their split with By Night) and give them the Fredrik Nordstrom-Central Tunnel 8 production treatment for a positive result. "Complete," the last real track, winds things up with slower, agonizing precision, and "Slow Chemical - Controle H" gently takes us out of the trance.

Overall, the disc is very good. There are times the songs sound too much like one another, but it isn't often enough to really damage the momentum Cipher System has created with Central Tunnel 8. This album should appeal to fans of the melodic Swedish death metal scene, even the picky ones who turn their noses up at anything they think might be "second rate."

Reviewed by Peter Johnston

INTERVIEW with Henric Carlsson:
http://www.morrigans-pit.org/mp/int_ciphersystem1104.php