UK thrash act Sylosis are unleashing their third CD, a concept album dealing with Greek Mythology titled Monolith. It's a pretty adventurous effort, a lengthy collection of melodic, technically precise thrash and death metal led by the stellar guitar work of Josh Middleton and Alex Bailey, two guitarists who really have studied the Bay Area scene and deliver plenty of sizzling solos and complex riffery in the grand tradition of Testament, Metallica, Megadeth, and Exodus. Expect an assortment of kick ass tracks here, like "Fear the World", "Out From Below", the almost prog-metallish "The River", and the blend of melody, atmosphere, and doomy textures on the raging title track. Middleton's vocals are a mix of a melodic death metal growl and the trashy roar of Testament's Chuck Billy, and work well within Sylosis' metal framework. Fans of super technical thrash will love the furious "A Dying Vine", complete with Rob Callard's acrobatic drum work and layers of brutal, technical riffs, and the near 20 minute closer "Enshrined" also has a complex, progressive feel to it, though I'm questioning why the band throws in a few minutes of silence in the middle, basically wasting that time before an excellent folky finale that reminds of vintage Opeth with its acoustic guitars and wonderful melodic vocals.
Very solid stuff here from Monolith, though for some there's going to be a bit too much material to grasp at first. Perhaps the band would have been better off shortening this concept piece by a song or two, but either way, it's a thrash album more than worthy of being on your immediate radar.
Track Listing
1. Out From Below
2. Fear The World
3. What Dwells Within
4. Behind The Sun
5. The River
6. Monolith
7. Paradox
8. A Dying Vine
9. All Is Not Well
10. Born Anew
11. Enshrined
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