Sweden's Sonic Syndicate are back after a near 4 year break with a new self-titled album for Nuclear Blast, and fifth overall. There have been plenty of line-up changes over the last few years, with bassist Karin Axelsson & guitarist Robin Sjunnesson now the only long standing members left intact, the rest of the group made up of drummer John Bengtsson & British vocalist Nathan James Biggs. Musically, not much has changed however, as the band are still delivering catchy, melodic death metal in the vein of In Flames or Soilwork, clean vocals & growls fighting for supremacy over manic rhythms and chugging guitar riffs. "Before You Finally Break", "Long Road Home", and "Day of the Dead" are vibrant, memorable melodic extreme metal fare, the band still showing a penchant for crafting catchy tunes. However, most of the album lacks that spark that sets it apart from past Sonic Syndicate releases, or that separates it from other releases in the melodic death metal realm. That's basically the problem I have with most of the metal releases in this category in recent years; it's all decent enough and well played, but many of these bands kind of sound the same after a while. In short, if you love this band, no doubt Sonic Syndicate will push all the right buttons for you, but if you've tired of the melodic death metal scene years ago, this one won't change your mind.
Track Listing
1. Day of the Dead
2. Black Hole Halo
3. Long Road Home
4. My Revenge
5. Before you Finally Break
6. Catching Fire
7. It Takes Me
8. See what I See
9. So Addicted
10. The Flame that Changed the World
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
