The Salty Pirate
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Written by Ziggy Sawdust April, 2009

If you're anything like me, you were young when Skate Punk and Thrash bands were really hitting it big and the energy was alive and vital, and being a kid still meant something. For those of us who grew up that way and sometimes even miss it, it would be almost impossible to have anything negative to say about Cessation Of Life, a 4- piece out of California who have the power to revisit the gritty days of yore and bring back just a little piece of our youth (and what could be more youthful than a big ol' 230 lb. man headbanging with his headphones in at work?). Their fourth studio album but fifth overall, "Path Of Totality" brings back an audible, chunky bass track from Justin Harrison that I feel is more the heartbeat of the album than the drums are usually, which is in no way a slight to Ron Ostlund, who does a tremendous job. Accompanying the shredding rhythm and snarling solos from Marty Mostad, is the magic of the bit: Chris Violence, Knight of the Brutally Bearded, who sounds like Steve Sousa and Chuck Schuldiner are the last two contestants on American Idol: Metal Singer and they have to do a sing- off to see who the best really is (Answer: it's a tie). Besides the mosh mastery of "Murder In The Pit" (!!!!), your face gets kicked in with "Waiting For The End", and you're slightly healed by the two minute bass solo "Ignorance And Apathy" before "Untranquil Seas" leaves you ragged and wanting more. I could go on for much longer, but I have to get back to enjoying this album.

-Ziggy Sawdust

AUTOEROTICASPHYXIUM ZINE
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Written by G.L. Giles March, 2009

A single track CD of Cessation Of Life’s Path Of Totality fell into my hands and from just hearing the one song titled “Necropolis” I wanted to hear more. So, I found them on MySpace at www.myspace.com/cessationoflife where I listened to three more tracks from their twelve-song album, Path Of Totality, which was self-released in 2008. So, I’m basing this review on only hearing a third of the total album at this point. Great vocals by Chris Violence in “Everyone and Everything” especially for me as I’m partial to the low death metal growls with hard-hitting musicality. Intense guitar-shredding by Marty Mostad, while Justin Harrison on the bass and Ron Ostlund on the drums held their own as well. It’s ultimately a death-themed album as the title suggests, so the track “Murder in the Pit” fits. But I found myself listening to the slower, not-so-speed metal-like “Reason To Live” over and over again. However, the band’s catch phrase is ‘High Velocity Speed Metal’ and from what I especially heard in the single “Necropolis” it lives up to it most of the time. The four tracks I heard were a unique mixture of melodic death metal/thrash/speed and even some punk thrown in the mix; their sound stands out from lots of copycat bands out there today. I look forward to hearing the entire album soon! For more information go to www.cessationoflife.com -G.L. Giles
 

Behind The Veil
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Written by Christine Parastatidou January, 2009

Why is it that bands like CESSATION OF LIFE who have something different and special going on, don't get the chance they deserve and instead we see hundreds of uninspired copy cats signing to record labels every day? It's really a shame, cause this is surely a talented and full of variety band with a rather unique and recognizable sound! These Americans have set sail to play catchy and in your face speed metal and they have achieved to deliver a top notch album! "Path of Totality" simply has it all, it's rich in texture, ideas, melodies and riffs, so there won't be a single moment you're going to feel tired or bored. This is as catchy album and almost every song has a different sound and approach to it and I liked a lot the fact that they mix speed metal with other genres like classic heavy metal, N.W.O.B.H.M. and thrash, whilst there are also moments that they flirt with melodic death metal as well. There's nothing I can say about the technique and performance of these guys. This is a top quality release from every aspect and CESSATION OF LIFE members are superb craftsmen. I liked a lot the solos and the shredding of Marty, they are catchy, edgy and to the point! The rhythm section is stable and concrete as a stone wall and Chris' vocals are ideal for this genre. They are the kind of vocals we all have mentally linked to speed metal and they add to the intensity and aggressiveness of the album. Personally I recommend "Path of Totality" to all the fans of bands like OVERKILL, MANNILA ROAD and ANNIHILATOR. Cool stuff!!!

Grins From Below
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Written By Herlaka Rose November 18th, 2008

When it comes to your favorite type of metal, you got a whole plethora of styles and quirks to select from. If you are friendly to the green manalishi with the two pronged crown, you probably love your metal as black as your soul. If you got a Mohawk larger than your penis, probably you're into good ol anarchy punk. If you think you need to shield your emotions from the world, you need to stop reading this shit and get the fuck out and go to your lil bitchy emo music. Me? Im a good old fashioned bay area thrasher. The most brutal kind of metal maniac out there, and the only type of metal that I consider could cut trough steel with a guitar. Exhibit A: Cessation of Life
California based thrashers bring on the pain with their particular brand of High Velocity Speed Metal, playing homage to legends of thrash (I hear a LOT of Megadeth guitars here) and bending and twisting into into a lil diabolical concoction of their own. The result is "Path of Totality", true old violent, searing rhythm guitar thrash. One listen to the first song, "Murder in the Pit" and you cant help but just be pulled in and never let go. This goes on full on 80's thrash with songs like "Admitting", which harkens to those old mellow intro songs that suddenly turn into a full on nuclear assault (no pun intended). And then of course, the obligatory instrumental in "Ignorance and Apathy", with a really fucking nice jazzy type of bass that I just cant help but smile at the total old school feel that it has. Fuck, I miss the 80's
If you are sick of the new emo stuff ruling the airwaves today, and are still not sure about the old 4 horsemen's brand of metal these days, jump into Cessation of Life, and let your love for headbanging and hate for the world be rekindled

Seriously recommended

Beowolf Productions
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November, 2009

CESSATION OF LIFE is a five piece out of California, playing a form of Speed Metal that they like to call "High Velocity". The music is very, very cool & takes me back to when Metal was about Metal. They have that great mid 80's - early 90's Thrash metal sound that is starting to make a comeback. These guys have been doing it for over 10 years now, so they aren't jumping on the band wagon. The music has lots of great shredding, speed & groove all through out. The vocals are done in a mid ranged rough Thrash Metal style. This is a must for any fan of greats like FORBIDDEN, VIO-LENCE, OVERKILL & DESTRUCTION!

The Metal Observer Review 9/19/2008
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Written by hells_unicorn on October 5th, 2008

A good number of people go by the assumption that speed metal is an obsolete predecessor of both power and thrash metal, which only really has any credibility when it’s revisited by established acts that tend either towards the mostly melodic proto-power style put forth by Judas Priest and Riot, or the proto-thrash and more extreme oriented pioneers Motorhead. The former style received a healthy renaissance with the rise of German acts such as Primal Fear, Iron Savior and Paragon, but something that doesn’t crossover into thrash territory yet still emulates the more aggressive style of Motorhead is a bit harder to come by.

One exception is the independent speed metal outfit Cessation Of Life, who present an extremely catchy yet also fairly rough edged take on the style. Although occasionally resorting to epic devices such as a gloomy atmospheric acoustic instrumental in “Admitting” or the heavily Manilla Road inspired “Untranquil Seas”, the bulk of this tends to be a brilliant marriage of Motorhead style attitude with a sort of early Metallica meets early Slayer delivery. The riffs are fairly formulaic, though they do often come off as elaborate and well thought out, and ultimately avoid the rapid changeups and constant shifts in feel more common to the mid-80s thrash scene.

Vocalist Chris Cronkite, who goes under the nickname “Violence” is definitely the main draw of this band’s overall sound. Whether he’s vocalizing lyrics about racing cars on “Hot Rod Heaven”, messing up fellow metal heads physically on “Murder In The Pit” or just going off on the sad state of the present day events on “The World Day, there is this sort of duality of heavy metal aggression and punk attitude that naturally brings some comparisons to Lemmy Kilmister. But it should be noted that Cronkite’s voice often has a deeper and more guttural quality befitting a proto-death metal vocalist, while the before mentioned Motorhead front man has a gravely and higher end style that won’t quite make your speakers hum in the same manner.

One of the principle complaints launched at the speed metal style is that it doesn’t vary enough, which is a flaw that this album does not suffer from in any respect. When you listen to “Murder In The Pit” and “Necropolis” there is definitely a heavy death metal tendency to it, despite the overall tonality not quite venturing into the morose territory mostly associated with the genre. “Reason To Live” is clearly cut from an early 80s NWOBHM style, contrasted by the almost purely punk nature and simplicity of “The World Today”. The band clearly pays a notable homage to Manowar with the slightly “Fighting The World” oriented song “Hot Rod Heaven”, as well as invoke the bass shredding genius originally explored by Joey Demaio in the 2 minute or so bass solo “Ignorance And Apathy”.

If you’re looking for an unsigned alternative to the somewhat lackluster thrash albums being put out over the past few years then this might be a good place to look. For an independent recording, it is reasonably well produced and also avoids the pompous overloud tendencies of a lot of established acts. The guitar work and bass work is extremely competent, and the songs are compact enough and free of unnecessary interludes and quiet sections to make for a smooth listening experience. Picture Motorhead’s “Iron Fist” meets Slayer’s “Show No Mercy” and you’ll be reasonably close to what this is.

Competent and aggressive. - 84%

Originally submitted to (http://www.metal-observer.com) on September 19, 2008.

MetalBite Review by JD on 11/18/2008
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Against what the band’s name really means, Cessation Of Life is a celebration of Metal life and gives you a kicking ass on a grand scale. The huge earthquake that had hit San Francisco way back, was nothing more than a child stamping it’s feet while in full tantrum mode compared to this band. This one shakes the very core of Metal... and wakes the masses.

This Camarillo, CA band comes out of the blocks with both guns blazing away like a wall of automatic weapon fire. They sound like a progressive thrash act, off setting that with shades of styles such like Grave Digger and alike. Massively pleasing guitars dually attack your mind while earth-quaking bass and the best drummers I have come across in awhile assault you and hits a 10. COL plainly delivers tasty metal shots, while assaulting you with a completely in your face attitude that breeds the need to be heard.

With such amazing tracks like ‘Necropolis’, ‘Murder In The Pit’ along with the very haunting and disturbing instrumental ‘Admitting’... they show both a complexity that is refreshing while keeping the bombastic nature and delivers it with a massive punch. What COL gives to the world, is a refreshing twist to strong and yet amazing music. The have made a big fan out of me.

Forget needing CPR if your metal heart seems to have suddenly stopped beating for some reason. The treatment is clear... put this album on at the highest volume your stereo can handle and it will jump start your heart every time. They have had three other studio albums out there, but I have to say, those are nothing as amazing as this opus is. Cessation Of Life is a starting point for real Metal.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.4 out of 10
 

Nocturnal Cult Webzine - United Kingdom 2008
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  Much has been made of the thrash revival going on these days and there are tons of cookie cutter bands glutting the scene.  However California's Cessation of Life is not one of them.  On their fourth full-length album, Path of Totality, they display a taste for and a reference to bands more in the vein of Dark Angel and Meliah Rage Giving them a "tougher" and somewhat harder edge than a lot of their contemporaries. 

  Murder in the Pit and Waiting for the End clench their fists around heavy, meaty riffs while the classy leads of Marty are a nice contrast in emotions.  Life in Camarillo utters acrobatic guitar rhythms that would do Megadeth proud.  Necropolis gallops forward like a horseman of the apocalypse while crunching guitar riffs induce neck snapping convulsions. 

  Whereas Reason to Live slows things down for a groovier rock vibe tipping their hands towards a more personal and emotional connection.  My favorite track on the album has to be Untranquil Seas where a frantic plea for salvation from the merciless sea is mirrored by churning guitar riffs and storming drums. 

  Chris Violence's vocals have a very burly presence to them at times reminding me of Zetro Souza (Exodus) and Mike Munro (Meliah Rage).  Justin's bass lines are smooth and almost jazzy at times and I love the tone he uses on them.  Just listen to his intense high-wire act on the instrumental Ignorance and Apathy. 

  I am not a big fan of the drum production on this release as the feel too sharp and crisp and sort of mechanical feeling.  On Path of Totality, Cessation of Life adds a gritty realism and exhibits a tough street persona.  Some truly memorable and interesting thrash is the result and the listener is immediately grabbed by the shattered collarbone.

METAL TO INFINITY - Belgium 2008
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  Camarillo, California USA is the place where these guys hails us from. Characterising for Cessation Of Life is they give a shit about nowadays styles of Metal music. If you ask it me, that's the straight spirit - play your own way of  music whatever it takes instead of 'cloning' someone else’s stuff!

  Cessation Of Life does it in style since their first, self-titled release back in 1997. Without the helping hand of a particular record label, they've released several other works (all independently!) too. Last one saw the break of dawn in 2005 by the title of ''The Glory Of The World Is Passing'' - an output that shows a band in good condition what immediately became clear while listening to this album. A big step forward was obvious, a new revelation in the field of underground Speed / Thrash Metal had arisen! As a follower of US Metal in general, I was longing for more - I was pretty sure that a new album should be on its way later on. It seems that my wish has become their requirement, Cessation Of Life's new album is just released as independent product a few weeks ago.

  Listening to the titled ''Path Of Totality'', this is the band's next step straight to the top of US Speed / Thrash Metal heaven. They continue believe firmly in their own way of music which is a very good point to me. Nothing to do with the nowadays of Metal music, Cessation Of Life is here with a brand new, shining bright album where much other groups can be surprised to. It's just damn pity they don't have a collaboration so far with one or another record company. They're absolutely worth to catch a record deal - instead of giving opportunities to sign a contract to other so called Metal bands who don't deserve at all, try Cessation Of Life. Pure as can be US Speed / Thrash Metal with loads of POWER!

  ''Path Of Totality'' opens fast and furious with a song called 'Murder In The Pit'. Unique vocals, great rhythm sections and awesome guitar movements to show us the way to the paths of pure Metal pleasures! A second blast show up by the title of 'Waiting For The End'... GREAT! Next 'Admitting' is an intermezzo to me, a little break for more Metal violence to come. 'Life In Camarillo' do reminds me of early Infernal Majesty sometimes. 'Reason To Life' is a low tempo one while Justin Harrison shows how the play a bass guitar the outstanding way on a song called 'Ignorance And Apathy'. Longest runner of the entire album calls  'Untranquil Seas'... a killer work again with original, quite unique vocals of Chris Violence and superb guitar tactics. Remaining songs: 'Hot Rod Heaven', 'Into Pieces', 'Everyone And Everything' and 'The World Today', to conclude the CD in beauty.

  Cessation Of Life just delivered a great album that makes them even better than they were before. The factor of my appreciation for COL always has been high. I met them as a great US Speed / Thrash Metal band years ago, they're still a unity with a lot of energy and passion for the right way of Metal music. Every time, they come show up with a form a strong progress - something what you cannot say about many other bands! Good advise: unfamiliar with Cessation Of Life: check them out and find out how good they really are. Give them the support they really deserve - spread their word for sure! http://www.myspace.com/cessationoflife   /   http://www.cessationoflife.com/   MY POINTS: 92 / 100