There is one thing I can say unequivocally when it comes to Sylosis — I am never worried they’re going to release a shit album.
About 15 years ago, when I first heard 2008’s Conclusion of an Age and 2011’s Edge of the Earth, I was looking for something new, something heavy, and most importantly, something original and unique. That’s exactly what I found when I first banged my fucking head to Sylosis almost two decades ago. I got into these guys early, and let me tell you — Sylosis have never disappointed me when releasing new material.
They’ve stayed the metal course for 18 years now, since the release of Conclusion of an Age, and with that time comes knowledge. And with knowledge comes power. And with power comes the most ambitious, aggressive assault on a prog metal album this side of the 2020s — occasionally crossing the fine line into tech-death territory.
Today, we bang our heads in unison to the heavier side of Sylosis.
Every time Sylosis release an album, they seem to dive deeper into the ever-evolving shitstorm around them and the rest of the world. In the case of The New Flesh, Sylosis deliver a definitive statement of dark devotion, devouring all in their path and leaving nothing in their wake. It’s time to take off the mask and reveal The New Flesh.
Absolute belters like the opening behemoth “Beneath the Surface,” the savagery of “Circle of Swords,” and the tumultuous title track “The New Flesh” are gnarled and gripping, bringing a crushing overtone not just to these songs but to the entire album.
Josh Middleton and the boys have gone above and beyond writing The New Flesh, the seventh album from Sylosis. Each previous release has consistently reached a high level of excellence, but I feel The New Flesh has taken Sylosis to another level, bringing with it an emotional ferocity that is second to none — particularly evident in the final track, “Seeds in the River.”
Riffs for days, heavy as fuck, and truly brutal drumming from Ali Richardson — this is Josh Middleton’s middle finger to a world that feels like it’s falling to pieces around him, and around all of us by extension.
But the most heart-wrenching track on the album is “Everywhere at Once,” an homage to how difficult it is to leave a young family behind when it’s time to hit the road and pursue your dreams. A feeling every parent of young kids knows all too well. The only difference being Sylosis fly around the world bringing joy through metal to hundreds of thousands of metalheads each year — like a band of heavy metal Santas.
Sylosis haven’t just delivered an album — they’ve carved out a classic. One of those albums you’ll return to year after year for its savagery, its barbarity, and its full-on assault on the idiocy that surrounds us and threatens to spread like a plague among those who toe the line without thinking for themselves.
Metal is an expression of defiance.
Metal is a message to the masses.
Metal is a religion.
And Sylosis are the preachers in the pulpit, spreading the memorandum that metal is heaven on Earth — and it will make us stronger with every listen of The New Flesh.
Dare I say it — the old prog metal gods are dead. Sylosis have earned their crown. More consistent than almost any band out there, Sylosis are making a massive statement with The New Flesh.
Album of the fucking year-level awesome.
But I guess you’ll have to listen for yourself to find out. You’ll thank me later.
The New Flesh is out February 20th
Order here: https://sylosis.os.fan/
