Sylosis Conclusion of an Age
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
One of the more exciting bands on the extreme metal scene, UK-based Sylosis, is back after a pair of EPs with their debut full length Conclusion of an Age. Similar in style to bands like Abigail Williams, Black Dahlia Murder and to some extent Success Will Write Apocalypse Across the Sky, Sylosis is part of a wave of younger bands that aren’t afraid to cross genre boundaries and incorporate elements of death, thrash, and even metalcore. Slayer, At the Gates, Pantera, Hatebreed and the Haunted may be the foundation of this new breed of metal, but they’re only the beginning.
It’s good to see a death band that doesn’t rely overmuch on the Gothenburg sound (though that’s undeniably an influence) or the clean-growl-clean-growl formula (though there are some clean vocals here and there). And on the thrash side, it’s nice to see at least some degree of melody. Sylosis has cherry picked the best, most effective elements from the modern death and thrash metal styles for a vital blend of aggression and…well, more aggression.
The songs on Conclusion of an Age are sharp, vicious and completely aggressive. There;s also an almost prog metal technicality to some of these songs, including some guitar solos that wouldn’t have been out of place on a later Death album. You also feel sense of something epic on this album, particularly songs like “After Lifeless Years” and the title track, even though they’re just as brief and fast as the rest of the album. They just make you feel like you’re witnessing destruction on an epic scale.
Of course, listening to Conclusion of an Age can make those of us who think death metal was perfected in Sweden a decade ago feel a bit old and out of touch, but it’s still reassuring to know that younger generations are taking extreme metal in new and exciting directions.
Label: Nuclear Blast
Lineup:
Carl Parnell – Bass
Rob Callard – Drums
Jamie Graham – Vocals
Josh Middleton – Lead Guitar
Alex Bailey – Guitar
Track Listing:
1. Desolate Seas
2. After Lifeless Years
3. Blackest Skyline
4. Transcendence
5. Reflections Through Fire
6. Conclusion of an Age
7. Swallow the World
8. Teras
9. Withered
10. Last Remaining Light
11. Stained Humanity
12. Oath of Silence
Online: On MySpace
HRH rating: 7.5/10