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Monolith

SKU: 2878-2
Label:
Nuclear Blast
Category:
Thrash Metal
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"A mere four years have passed since Sylosis' inception and they’re already on the cusp of releasing their third record – Monolith; an ambitious concept album from the young English quartet.

Although the word itself defines a large block of rock or stone, it also shares its name with a tale of tragedy. Basing a concept on a theme of Greek mythology is more usually than not going to procure heavy, dark connotations and the story of Orpheus and Eurydice allows purposeful comparisons to be drawn to the twisted and selfish side of human nature, perhaps even very ambiguously around the seven deadly sins, although not quite as defined.

The album is by far the most decadently dreary tapestry of work that Sylosis has ever offered. Their confidence has evidently grown with their experience and they’ve each developed into seasoned artists comprising a completely polished entity; unafraid of taking risks nor stepping into the creative abyss.

Josh Middleton must be credited as the leading visionary of the band; he’s taken a lead role in the production aspect of the recording process from the start and has even taken front-man duties in addition to lead guitar, since the bands sophomore record, ‘Edge of the Earth’, when they decided to move forward without  their original vocalist. The aforementioned record was in fact only released last year, but being the insatiable writers that Sylosis are, a quick turnaround of new material was imminent.

Monolith is a big-sounding record, there quite simply are no filler tracks and every sound and utterance is presented as if it’s been conceived and then sculpted with a surgeon’s precision. It encompasses atmospheric tones and layers of ambient nimble fret-waxing abreast of tangible slices of thrash and waves of expansive doomy riffs that lull and aurally inveigle.

The almost 20 minute epic closer may very well be the jewel in the crown of Monolith; imagine the sound of the four horsemen of the apocalypse meets the undead spirit of 80’s thrash. Here’s a composition that weaves energetic and progressive technical chapters with delicate and emotive melodic tangents; complete with a two and a half minute interval, naturally. Beautifully innovative and covertly stylish, this truly is balls-to-the-wall metal in 2012. If you’ve never heard of Sylosis, you’re very, very late to the party; this is one of the greatest British metal bands of our time. For Christ’s sake." - Metal Injection

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  • "Formed in Athens, the band PSYCRENCE saw the light of day in 2009, in December 2010 they released a self-produced demo EP entitled “Distance” which has received an excellent and very encouraging acclaim by the press and the fans alike, a fact that’s leads PSYCRENCE to play many stages in their native country, it includes an highly rewarded spot at the famous festival's "Tunes In Progress" bill.Now it’s time for the release of their debut album, “A Frail Deception” and it’s time for a deep analysis of this burning platter, full of progressive elements, both inherited from the new and old tradition, melted and boosted carefully, with the additions of some down tuning heaviness and many intriguing atmospheric sounds. Their music style and its definition is hard to explain but it also contains a tons of familiar elements subtly borrowed to many legendary heroes… You’ll name it, isn't it?! As an example, the first tune “A Losing Game” starts with a melodic pattern of piano enhanced with layers of synthesizers overdubbed by an asymmetric guitar riffage, very classic in its construction and perfectly measured and dosed, with an impressive Lead vocals performance in order to complete this archetypal picture of the Progressive Metal of the 90’s… Nothing really new but the tradition is respected and honored by such a smart and fine introductive track.The sonic production work gets a result near to perfection, scoring the privilege of being clear and strong in the exact doses, the best way to give justice at their amazing playing talents and developing an enjoyable path of sounds for songs like “Convergence” as it belongs to a more difficult breed of composition that really need some more time to penetrate your psyche… See you at the Coda. With the continuity of those four cuts that follow now “Forced Evolution” / ”Moral Decay” / ”Subconscious Eyes” / ”Incised Path” it reveals to us another side of their specifies, it holds a new density but also a real melodic richness, the opulent and refined Keyboards / Guitar harmonized canvas, built under a perfect construction of a complex duo is jaw dropping, the rhythmic section is tight as any Modern Power Metal but with a more elaborated harmonic maze on the top of it. The sharp riffing duet of guitars can be at the same time sophisticated and chaotic, bold and delicate, insidious or vicious but also elusive, their manic riffage is on the insistent mood, hypnotic or fierce and their solos spots are technically improved yet particularly demented in “Moral Decay”… ”Incised Path” contains also a bunch of NWOBHM flavors compensated by a still very relaxed kind of proggy crooning courtesy of singer Takis Nikolakakis.“Distance” is indeed another superbly crafted song, it's a Darker number hiding into a real progressive outfit, because of the arrangements as it builds itself layer after layer, until surprisingly providing a new found intensity and a new edge in the chorus section, starting with an incessant creeping riff that leads to another damn fine solo interaction. The track n°8 “Reflection” is another guitar driven, a fast paced and heavy thing, drums part are more direct, less audacious than the early titles but with a fury of melody improved by this always fantastic voice somewhere between Andy Kravljaca (ELSESPHERE / SEVENTH WONDER / SILENT CALL / AEON ZEN) and Nils K. Rue (PAGAN’S MIND / ex-X-WORLD 5 / ex-EIDOLON) with some hints of Tobias Sammett’s vibrato“Hold Close The Flame” is the closing number and surely the most addictive of all, a slower pace, an ethereal clean guitar motif and an emotive vocals performance in the early QUEENSRYCHE‘s musical inspiration, in spite of the title being close to a famous track of the mythical “Warning”, the signature style is palpable and concrete, it's crystal clear to me that it belongs to an idolatry homage to the Tate / DeGarmo / Wilton legacies.After the glorious releases by compatriots WARDRUM or UNTIL RAIN, I will believe that something musically exceptional is happening in this Mediterranean Hellenic territory, much alike the Italian phenomenon and its legions of talented group appearing like a spontaneous generation of talented spirits in the vein of FATES WARNING / QUEENSRYCHE / CIRCUS MAXIMUS / REDEMPTION / AEON ZEN or EUMERIA. A very classy collection of songs in the key of smartness and elegance, exquisitely set in an evaluative mood in order to conquer the hearts but mostly the mind of those Progressive Metal lovers." - Metal Temple
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