Sylosis - Dormant Heart

I have a real soft spot for the these guys, it’s always nice to see relatively local lads doing well, that being said I think most metal heads would be hard pressed to argue the fact that their record so far has been pretty flawless, 3 releases, 3 great records, so once again and rather predictably this is another absolute rager. At this point part of me wants them to release a stinker, just to spice things up a bit! Maybe an EP of Justin Bieber covers?

Dormant Heart follows the trajectory they have been on to this point in so much as it again marks an improvement in both sonic terms and in relation to the song writing, lyrically and musically this is the strongest set of songs that they have released yet, its HEAVY, and absolutely brimming with crushing riffs and devastating vocals with some massive hooks.

Lyrically you can tell the band have been effected by the turmoil the country is in right now and there is a an abundance of politically charged lyrics. If you like riffs, pounding drums and furious vocals you will be well at home here, Where the Wolves come to die is an absolute rager of an opening tune all driving drums, chuggy riffage and savage vocals, but in truth there are so many highlights on this album, and so many memorable riffs, Leeches, To build a tomb and Servitude are particular highlights for me as is Mercy which has a nice melding of clean and harsh vocals for the chorus.

The album closes in surprising fashion with the melodic and epic closer Quiescent; the track provides a reprieve from the onslaught of the previous 11 tracks opening with clean guitar and vocals which slowly build and gathers momentum building in tempo and vocal ferocity and it’s the perfect closing moment to cap the album off, unless you go the special edition which includes 2 additional tracks there’s the dark, moody Pillars erode which conjures memories of Black Sabbath starting as it does with the sound of pouring rain and then there’s the cover of  The Smashing Pumpkins ‘Zero’  I won’t dwell on this, it’s a cover which doesn’t really add anything to the tune beyond introducing harsh vocals, it’s a track that can’t really be improved but it’s a competent effort.

Ultimately if you like big riffs, big hooks and flesh shredding vocals then buy this immediatel.

8/10

Listen to - Leeches