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SYLOSIS
Cycle Of Suffering
2020, Nuclear Blast

There is a certain amount of nobility, I suppose, in being underrated within one’s own time. Not unknown, but not top of mind, either. After all, many of history’s now beloved artists of all stripes were perhaps both and yet nowadays are celebrated masters of craft. So it is with SYLOSIS, tirelessly grinding away at their craft - cellar dwelling darlings of Nuclear Blast since the start - and all the while being just beyond tip-of-the-tongue discourse. After a brief hiatus, 2020 finds SYLOSIS back with new album Cycle of Suffering. And so it begins again.

Whenever I think about SYLOSIS I always immediately also think of BYZANTINE, not because the two are stylistically similar, but because they are both so damn good at what they do but for whatever reason aren’t at that next level of success, whatever that is defined as these days. The metal that SYLOSIS plays is definitely modern, slick, and punchy but they have, and have had, such a strong grasp of the fundamentals of thrash that the result is just plain fun to listen to. Basically the band shreds and brings riffs like gale force winds in a hurricane.

So what does SYLOSIS sound like in 2020? Will Cycle of Suffering finally pull them from the edges of the map as they so richly deserve? Well, no, but that isn’t a bad thing. In a time when there are as many bands as people on the planet (or so it seems) there is no shortage of amazing talent that will never be heard or heard by the right people, so the fact that SYLOSIS is on a fringe just makes sense. Popularity is, of course, a numbers game and a good bit of luck and while they may not be a household name, SYLOSIS continue to create music that is inspired and inspiring, emotive and neck muscle stretching. And isn’t that important in the world, to still feel like you as a fan have something that is your own? I feel that way about SYLOSIS and if more than 5 people like them I swear to God…

The sound remains the same - not thrash, not djent, but definitely a sound that will not sound dated as so much does. None of this is to say SYLOSIS is not a product of their time (but tell me who isn’t?). The guitars pop and overall sparkle and Cycle of Suffering just slaps. I am confident that I will return to it often as I do with SYLOSIS’ entire catalogue. The melodious hooks keep ripping open the metaphorical skin, low end (audible!) bass rumbles not so gently amongst the precise drumming, perfect for an almost neoclassical metal assault all coming together under the bark of lead vocalist Josh Middleton.

As I said, I always think of BYZANTINE when considering SYLOSIS. Both are underrated in their own time. Hopefully history will remember both groups as the visionaries they are.

4.0 Out Of 5.0