With this technically very skilled album U.K. based Sylosis releases an album
that will be in some end of the year lists for sure in 2015. With that said,
they have put the level high for other bands that fish in the same pond. In 2008
the base for their album 'Conclusion of an Age' was formed by Bay Area Thrash,
but already with a lot of other elements from other genres. On the next albums
they developed their style and with this new album they almost perfected it.
This isn't Djent, it isn't deathcore, it isn't metalcore, it isn't thrash, it
isn't melodeath, no it is just Sylosis. The mix they make of several style
influences is done in such a good way that it is a kind of a style of their own they
have created.
The rather slow short marching opener "Where the Wolves Come To Die" is a rather
dark sounding song with guttural vocals and with a lot of melody. Big is the
contrast when "Victims and Pawns" takes it over in a fast thrash rhytmn. The
drums are very tight throughout the album and sound fantastic. Josh Middleton -
his singing holds the middle of metalcore and harsh thrash style, with some more
grunting parts in several songs. Halfway the first song it slows down for a
moment in a kind of doomy mechanical tempo after which a sublime guitar solo
takes over. This variety in the songs, but also within the songs keeps you
focused and convinces me that the band has written excellent songs. "Dormant Heart" is
a real thrash metal hammer with jumpy riffs and together with the singing style it
makes me think of the first Warpath album a bit. The icing on the cake is the
packed full of melody solo again and not for the last time the song slows down a
bit towards the end.
Every next song on the album has a different story to tell. "To Build a Bomb"
sounds more like a slow atmospheric melodic death metal song that turns into
fast thrash metal near the end. The bass guitar takes the lead in "Overthrown" with
its contagious lines. "Leech" has a kind of hardcore attitude in it, "Servitude"
is a threatening slow riff monster with very pissed off angry vocals and
just when you think it is getting bored, the tempo changes. "Indoctrinated" is a
new wave of thrash metal sounding song but with a very interesting twist again halfway
(and do I hear churchbells in the background, or is it something else?). "Mercy"
gives me that Warpath feeling again a little bit, but it also has a part with
almost clean singing. After all this unique shit, the most progressive track
still has to follow. Over 9 minutes is "Quiescent" and it is the song in which
the band follows more new paths than ever. It is a not typical Sylosis track and
I think there will be fans that will not choose this to be their favorite. The song
starts accoustic with clean singing, turns halfway into a heavier part with
metalcore screams and then fades away. Not my personal favorite either, but I
just push the repeat button again.
All in all an album full of progressive thrash metal with many twists and turns,
very skilled musicianship, a lot of melody and their best so far.
