It doesn’t feel as if it’s been three years since Sylosis returned to our ears with Cycle Of Suffering, an incredible feat of metal prowess where Sylosis showed they weren’t going anywhere. Now, with frontman, Josh Middleton stepping down from big-hitters Architects earlier in the year, all of his attention was able to be focused on creating the follow-up to their last bout of heaviness. 

Referring to the album earlier in the year as a “homecoming”, will the metal musicians’ full-steam focus on his baby be the return that fans have been clamoring for? A Sign Of Things To Come (Nuclear Blast Records) is the first album to be co-produced by Middleton and Scott Atkins, and the new influence from Atkins comes in strong from the moment the album gets going; the music has a cleaner, sharper edge than before and light synths are utilized in the background at times to amplify not only the overall atmosphere of the piece, but makes the tracks feel so much more layered. 

Don’t think this cleaner side of production affects the raw heaviness though! This is still Sylosis…

You may have feared that with his time in Architects, Middleton would’ve mellowed out and dialed down the metal intensity, but these apprehensions are soon put to rest as a hoarse chugging rhythm section kicks the doors of the album down and Middleton screams down the microphone, signaling the beginning of the opening track “Deadwood”. When the chorus lands it hits hard, premonitions of their upcoming shows on this album cycle brings visions of frenzies of pits exploding when this song hits its stride. 

The entire album is cohesive as a package, bringing heft, a hulking metal behemoth and screaming anthems from start to finish, while showcasing diversity within their heaviness. Tracks like “Absent” really take the band to different places, slowing down, allowing Middleton to sing melodic passages. While it could be seen as the band becoming more melodic and radio-friendly, all this does is amplify the heavier sections of the album, the dynamics of the slower sections make the chugging heavy segments of the album hit that much harder. When the song goes into full force, the atmosphere that’s created on record is magnificent and will be phenomenal to witness on the touring circuit. 

The track that takes all of the great elements that the band has built up, not only within the album, but their whole career, is “Eye To Eye”: filthy guitars backed by thundering drums fill the space, Ali Richardson sounds like both an animal and a machine behind the drum kit. If that wasn’t all, the band then launches into one of the best choruses of their career to date, “Eye for an eye, but you’re the only one who’s been left blind.” screams Middleton – you can envision the hordes of fans pointing and screaming the poignant lyrics straight back at them. 

A Sign Of Things To Come is the sound of a band on top form, all members completely in sync as a complete unit and it is crystal clear that with the band now a priority act and focused behind Middleton, that Sylosis have well and truly returned to conquer the UK metal scene. There aren’t many bands who take a break and then come back reinvigorated, creating some of the best music of their career. This really does feel like A Sign Of Things To Come, and it is time for fans to flock once again to their shows and bring these metal monsters to life. 

Buy the album here:

https://sylosis.bfan.link/a-sign-of-things-to-come.ema

9 / 10

CHARLIE HILL