Review Summary: New age thrash is coming, and it’s coming to shake things up. Sylosis show even before their yet to release a full length album that their willing to think and step outside of the box showing great levels of potential with their Ep “The Supreme Oppres
To be able to describe Sylosis’ sound you would first have to grasp the idea of a band that can combine many musical elements into their sound; these elements ranging from melodic, metal-core, progressive and a huge thrash influence. And yet we still have not nailed Sylosis’ sound. When 2008 rolled around most of the metal community were calling for some sort of change, and hopefully a change for the better.
When Sylosis combine their musical elements the metal community get for the most part what they want.
The Ep starts off rather disappointingly with an instrumental introduction, most of which would admit that they have heard this recipe before, the introduction does not do the rest of the tracks justice and lacks the emotional build up to prepare listeners on the ride their about to take. The introduction is symphonic and graceful and uses a slight crescendo build up before leading into the track “Manipulation Through Idols” where the band gets busy and the listener pays attention. The combination of drum fills matched with the guitar riffage displays a sense of high hopes for the rest of the record. The vocal are growled, but remain for the most part understandable a feature missing from most metal acts these days and is a fresh surprise and a positive for fans of an older style of metal. Of particular notice on the record is the riffage used throughout, it remains tight, well crafted and tasteful to the music that is being produced.
The thrash elements used on the album are considerably strong, being the basis for their sound, and the thrash influences are prominent in the guitar work and drumming patterns. The Ep comes in at just under 30 minutes and gives the listener a perfect amount of enjoyment without becoming boring or tiresome. The guitar solos are not overdone either and for the most part remain relatively short in their respective tracks and this gives a more enjoyable listen.
The instrumentation of this Ep is noteworthy and each instrument plays a specific role in Sylosis they are not there to simply fill a members roster. The vocals are aggressive but not overly so that it begins to get hard to relate to them, they also show a fair range from growls to shrieks. The strongest and most noted parts of Sylosis are the guitarists both melodically and in its rhythm sections, giving a strong backbone for the rest of the music to rest on. The bass while less heard does not simply hug the guitar lines, but strengthens the rhythm section tying in with the drum kit perfectly. The drums itself display features typical of a metal drummer i.e. double bass work, extensive fills and cases of blast beating but should not be dismissed as doing the same old thing, it suits the thrash genre quite well.
For positive, listeners will notice the changed tempo and structure patterns as well as the use of some dissonant chords used in some tracks of the Ep. This further creates interest for the listener and a show further the creative talents of the guitarists and the ability to use these ideas tastefully in songs and also supports the use of the word “melodic” when describing the music.
Highlighting the Ep is the track “Visions Of Demise” this track may not be overly special but shows both technical ability of all musicians and creative talent to craft a song that is catchy, melodic, aggressive and contains an excellent guitar solo which is roughly the longest on the record, which also features extensive sweeps, bends and other techniques to keep guitarists enthused when listening to the album. Visions Of Demise is a track you will want to bang your head in time with. It is also a great example of the combined genres to create a well balanced listen. And if listeners are after a change of pace the instrumental should give a great listen, combining acoustical elements with a very melodic feel throughout the track. It is a much slower paced song and builds up and down with the use of crescendos and decrescendos.
The production values of the Ep are very well done, being very much the same quality you would expect on a full length album, however the cymbals do seem to at some points fade in and out stronger and weaker in separate tracks. The guitars and vocal lines remain of a very clear quality.
Sylosis show very clearly that they are trying new things, new sounds, and new combinations. Their style of music will be very appealing for the metal community, especially those already in the thrash scene. Sylosis show that they are very willing to push the box outwards in a very positive way.
Highlights Include: Visions Of Demise, Silence From Those In The Sky, and Blind Desperation.
