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.
4 out of 5
Stream Monolith in it's entirety at MetalSucks.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AoY0esZBhw[/youtube]
