Cell Games
The Redux: You Have (Not) Heard These Songs Before (EP)
Birthed during the pandemic, Cell Games were originally a duo and ideas were bounced over the internet. Fast forward a few years and four songs from that era get fleshed out by a full band and released as the quartet’s debut EP. As a mission statement, this EP marks Cell Games as a contemporary force and opening track ‘Lament Configuration’ sets about beating a new path, rather that following that most travelled. The four years since this cut was first recorded have been well spent with Cell Games sounding far more confident, shedding dead skin and sharpening their sound into a glistening blade. Lyrically too, the band avoid the usual cliches, preferring to draw inspiration from anime, personal struggles and popular culture which ensures an aura of freshness hangs over the band. With a feeling that nothing is off limits, there’s a whole musical vista waiting to be explored which bodes well for the band’s future, but for now ‘Let’s Go To Therapy’ throws some rapid-fire rap vocals into the mix whilst the band get down-tuned and dirty on the grungy ‘Filthyweight’ before toying with retro electronics on closer ‘Relics’. It means we’ll be hearing a lot more from Cell Games and ‘You Have (Not) Heard These Songs Before’ very soon.
https://www.facebook.com/CellGamesBand
Review by Peter Dennis.