Sylosis return with a new album that should easily attract both longtime followers and listeners curious to discover what the band has been building over the years. Essentially the life’s work of Josh Middleton, the driving force and creative vision behind the band since its beginnings, Sylosis have developed a sound that brings together different elements that shape their personal metalcore style. Their latest, seventh full-length effort continues that approach, but with a more direct and aggressive edge that becomes apparent from the start. The performances are consistently strong, with the band moving comfortably between fast, thrash-influenced passages, heavier grooves and more melodic sections. There is a clear technical background behind the playing, yet the songs rarely become exercises in showing off. The riffs are generally more straightforward than some of what the band have delivered in the recent past, seemingly aiming for greater immediacy without sacrificing the carefully constructed structures underneath. This works well in many places, although some riffs are simplified to the point where they feel slightly less substantial than what Sylosis are capable of. The album also leaves room for atmosphere. Melodic passages and acoustic elements are used sparingly but effectively, giving the heavier material some breathing space and adding another emotional dimension without interrupting the album’s momentum. The grooves range from traditional, heavy patterns to tighter, sharper approaches, while the faster sections carry a noticeable restless energy without necessarily reaching for an old-school feel that would seem out of place. There is plenty of variety here, and the songwriting clearly has more going on beneath the surface than the directness of some of the song parts might initially suggest. Where the album loses some ground – probably when it comes to more demanding ears – is in how these different elements come together sonically. The production is by no means bad, but its compressed and relatively uniform character sometimes takes away from the dynamics that could make the contrasts between thrash, groove and melody work more effectively. Some of the songwriting therefore feels slightly held back by the way it is presented. The vocals are another area where a more experienced listener might find themselves wanting a little more. The phrasing shows effort and thought, but does not always come through with the same level of control, leading to a delivery that does not always add as much character to the songs as a more distinctive vocal approach might have brought. Considering all that, it goes without saying that “The New Flesh” will work effectively for fans looking for quality delivered with a faster, more aggressive and refreshed attitude from the band. There is strong musicianship, plenty of ideas and a clear sense of purpose as a whole. Still, it stops just short of fully revealing the band’s compositional potential and the atmosphere these songs could have created with more dynamic production and stronger vocal presence in places. Given the standard the band have established through the years, we have another strong album that shows plenty of promise and personality, and one that should easily satisfy existing fans while giving newcomers enough reason to dig deeper into the band’s catalogue.
♦ 8/10
Tasos Bouhoutsos
