By WILLIAM J. WRIGHT
With their ninth studio album, AN INSATIABLE VIOLENCE, firmly entrenched in the top 10 of both the U.S. and Canadian Billboard Hard Music charts, Montreal death metal veterans Cryptopsy continue their three-decade assault on the world. Cryptopsy fans are undoubtedly aware that the band has been revealing their new album’s shockingly prescient vision of our collective (and collectively sick) obsession with internet fame through a series of brutal, cryptic video clips over the past few months.
Chronicling the meteoric rise and savagely tragic downfall of a social media influencer, the videos outline a narrative that now composes a short film featuring a medley of headbanging grooves drawn from all eight unrelenting tracks from the album. Written and directed by Christopher Kells (former bassist of the Canadian melodic death metal outfit The Agonist, whose previous work includes videos from Seven Spires, KATAKLYSM, and many others), the short stars Lisa McCormack. Label Season of Mist and Cryptopsy have chosen RUE MORGUE as their chosen venue to unleash this dark vision, and it is our pleasure to unveil it here for the first time.
“The concept of the film for AN INSATIABLE VIOLENCE is about a person who desperately wants to be a popular social media influencer. The scenes dance through the protagonist’s day-to-day relationship with content creation and how their audience reacts to it. It’s an insatiable violence and a truly saddening reality of humanity’s relationship with social media,” vocalist Matt McGachy explains, adding, “The life of content creators can be far more detrimental compared to day-to-day social media users. The short film weaves between the audience worshiping the protagonist, losing interest, turning against her, and eventually just ignoring her efforts. In a last-ditch effort for attention, the protagonist takes her own life in the search for eternal fame.”
“Creating an 8-part mini series for Cryptopsy’s An Insatiable Violence was no easy task,” director Christopher Kells says. “Matt and I cultivated stories based off of his lyrics and decided to give an awkward and uncomfortable view into a fictitious influencer’s mind.
“The videos explore the grotesque and isolating effects of digital culture, influencer obsession and the decay of self-worth in a hyper-connected world. Actress Lisa McCormack dove right into the character development and gave it her all as our influencer. The fast-paced imagery and visuals mirror the psychological descent of an online persona from idolized content creator to digital burnout and eventual madness…”
“There was a shared understanding that we were there and focused on creating something truly strange, visceral and creatively unhinged. That energy was essential to me not only as a director but as a fan of the band, and it mirrored the chaotic intensity and experimental spirit of Cryptopsy’s music.”
AN INSATIABLE VIOLENCE is out now on Season of Mist. Experience Cryptopsy on tour across the U.S. with The Last Ten Seconds of Life and Cognitive, beginning September 12.
