Album Review: Sylosis - Dormant Heart

When I reviewed Sylosis' previous album, I came away from it thinking that Sylosis was a band that had potential, but was still quite a ways from making the most of it. They were clearly skilled instrumentalists, as it seems the majority of new metal bands are, but their songs were lacking the heart and hooks that are supposed to elevate the music above a parade of guitar store riffs. That was missing from their previous album, but that did not stop Sylosis from gaining ground in the new world of metal, to the point where “Dormant Heart” has been talked about as one of the most anticipated albums of the year. While I can't say I have thought the same way about the record, the collective hype is enough to make me interested in hearing what they have managed to accomplish this time around.

The meat and potatoes of Sylosis' sound is no different; a blend of modern thrash and death metal, with plenty of speedy and technical riffing giving way to soaring guitar harmonies. It's a blend I can see the appeal of, feeding into both the fans of the brutally heavy, and the highly melodic. Tracks like “Leech” and “Victims And Pawns” have a find blend of these elements, creating symphonies of guitars that any fan would love to sit down and headbang to. They are clearly phenomenal players, as the record is tight to a fault. The guitars rip with endless precision, charging through riffs as though the band didn't have to waste a though on the effort needed to play them. That, in and of itself, is quite remarkable.

But as before, there is more to making a great record than throwing together a pile of riffs. Songwriting, and the choices that come along with it, are where I continue to struggle with the band. As these songs come and go, I am continually left with the same feeling; something is missing. The instrumentals are there, and the writing itself is solid enough, but everything falls apart in the vocal department. Through the aggressive verses, the vocals make sense. They are suitably heavy and growled, and underscore the weight of the music.

When the choruses come, and the melodies are heightened, Sylosis undercuts their own compositions by sticking with those growled vocals. There is not enough melody or character in them to make the hooks stand out the way they are supposed to, and the few clean vocals there are simply are not good enough. Contrasted with a band like Scar Symmetry, that uses both harsh and clean vocals to maximize the impact of whatever the song is calling for, the approach Sylosis uses can be seen to be lacking.

That's not to say that “Dormant Heart” is a bad record, because it most certainly isn't. There is actually a lot to like about the record, even if the potential improvements are so obvious. They have made strides as songwriters since their last album, and this is certainly a step in the right direction. They are doing something more interesting with modern metal and thrash than most of the other rehashes out there, but they still fall into the modern trap of forgoing accessibility, to their own detriment.

Sylosis has been receiving a lot of attention, and they certainly will for this record too. I understand why, but I also know that if they were to address their issues, they could become one of the biggest metal bands in the world. Whether it is a strict choice, or the result of a limited set of skills, Sylosis can only take baby steps forward with each record. “Dormant Heart” is a step forward, but it could have been so much more.

Chris C

Music Reviewer

Chris is a professional intellectual. He graciously shares his deep thoughts on the world of music with the world. You're welcome.