SYLOSIS
The New Flesh
Nuclear Blast Records

SYLOSIS deserves a seat at the table and at this point, they’ve earned it! This isn’t a band still trying to prove they belong; it’s a band reminding the metal world that consistency, evolution, and riff writing still matter.

For me, ‘The New Flesh’ isn’t just another album to review, it’s the continuation of a journey I’ve followed for years. I remember hearing ‘Monolith’ for the first time and being pulled in immediately, but it was ‘Dormant Heart’ that truly sealed it. The moment “Servitude” hit my speakers, it became one of my all-time favorite tracks. When Josh Middleton shifted his focus to ARCHITECTS for a period, I followed that path too, but SYLOSIS never felt finished; just waiting for the right moment to strike again.

That moment came during the Charlotte stop on the FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY tour. I had already been approved to cover the show when Kristen, from Nuclear Blast, reached out after seeing my name on the list. She mentioned that SYLOSIS didn’t have anyone scheduled for photos and asked if I could help out by sending some over. My response, was immediate: “Uh… fuck yes!” I was already going to be there, but that level of trust hit differently. And sure, I know labels ask more than one photographer, that’s the reality of the industry, but in that moment, I told myself she asked me. It shifted the entire experience. I wasn’t just attending; I felt responsible for documenting a band I’ve supported for years.

I had also hoped to grab an impromptu interview that night, but the band had been dealing with the flu during that run, so it never happened. Even so, I managed to briefly connect with Conor Marshall, who passed along their contact information and encouraged me to reach out ahead of the next U.S. run. Moments like that stick with you because they remind you that behind the heaviness and the lights are musicians who still value genuine interaction. Then came ‘The Path & New Flesh’ EP, introducing “As Above So Below,” which quickly became one of my personal favorites. So, when news of a full-length album surfaced, I told my editor straight up: if this comes across your desk, I want it!

Reviewing a band you genuinely respect isn’t always easy. There’s a balance between being a fan and staying professional. When a band asks for a seat at the table of kings, expectations rise. No one gets a free pass not even bands you’ve followed for years. And I’m not going to dance around it ‘The New Flesh’ delivers. It feels like a masterclass in modern metal songwriting, blending thrash roots with groove-heavy foundations with flashes of death metal aggression. The production is massive without feeling sterile, and the growth from ‘A Sign of Things To Come’ is undeniable. The groove-focused backbone introduced on that record is pushed further here, and you can hear the band leaning into their influences without sounding nostalgic. In a genre obsessed with drop tunings lower and lower, Middleton continues to write crushing riffs instandard tuning. Proving that heaviness comes from creativity, not just technical tricks.

The album opens with “Beneath The Surface,” and it wastes no time making a statement. The track storms forward with relentless groove, and when the lyric warns to “Tread carefully, this world can swallow you,” it feels like both a thematic introduction and a warning shot. The bass riff, later in the track, adds subtle variation keeping the momentum shifting without losing weight. Flowing directly into “Erased,” the intensity tightens even further. The snare cracks through the mix while the vocals move from melody into harsher territory, and by the time that chorus hits, if you’re not banging your head, you’re probably not medically cleared to move your neck. Together, these opening tracks establish the tone of the album sharp, focused, and unapologetically heavy.

“All Glory, No Valour” and “Lacerations” continue that early surge with confidence. The former leans into a groove that feels instantly familiar, and when the chorus demands a “Seat at the table of kings,” it almost feels like a self-aware nod to the band’s own journey. The chant-like structure sounds built for a live crowd response, the kind of moment you can already imagine echoing across a packed venue. “Lacerations,” on the other hand, digs deeper emotionally. The lyric about seeing a world;“Look through my eyes, you’ll begin to see, that the world before you, is not the same for me” adds vulnerability beneath the aggression. The contrast between soaring clean vocals and Josh’s rasp highlights how far the band has evolved vocally and emotionally.

The middle stretch shifts tones slightly. “Mirror Mirror” carries echoes of early-2000s metal influence and a subtle nod to the sounds that shaped Middleton’s early writing while still feeling grounded in SYLOSIS’ modern identity. “Spared From The Guillotine” opens with a drum performance that instantly grabs yourattention, even if the track itself feels more like connective tissue between heavier highlights rather than a centerpiece. Its placement keeps the pacing balanced and prevents the album from feeling front-loaded, giving the listener a moment to breathe before the next wave hits.

“Adorn My Throne” resets the atmosphere with a slower melodic introduction that feels almost like a narrative pause before the heaviness returns. The solo here carries emotional weight that lingers beyond its runtime, making it one of the more memorable instrumental moments on the record. Then comes the title track, “The New Flesh,” and this is where the band’s old-school influences really shine. Around the midsection, the riffing tightens into something that feels undeniably SEPULTURA inspired with a subtle nod to the ‘Arise’ era before expanding again into SYLOSIS’ signature blend of groove and aggression. It’s not imitation; its homage filtered through their own identity, reinforcing how deeply rooted their sound is in heavy music history.

And then the album takes a turn with “Everywhere At Once.” I wasn’t expecting this song, and I definitely wasn’t expecting it to become one of my favorites here. Built around acoustic textures and a slower pace, it could have easily felt like filler on a lesser album, but instead it becomes one of the most emotionally powerful moments on the record. To me, it feels like a song about the struggles of anxiety and the pressures of the world closing in. Something I can absolutely relate to; and even if that wasn’t the exact intention behind it, art has always been about interpretation. The restraint in the arrangement allows every note to breathe, and the vulnerability in the vocal delivery adds a depth that contrasts beautifully with the album’s heavier moments. At over five minutes, the track unfolds rather than rushing, pulling you into a quieter emotional space before releasing you back into the storm.

“Circle Of Swords” snaps everything back into aggressive territory with a riff that feels like pure guitar worship. Tight, focused, and unapologetically heavy. It reminds you exactly why SYLOSIS built their reputation on relentless songwriting. The album closes with “Seeds In The River.” A five-minute finale that blends groove, melody, and subtle acoustic textures into a cohesive ending. The imagery of being “washed away like we were never” gives the record a reflective closing moment, tying together themes of mortality and transformation introduced earlier.

No album is without flaws. The solos, while technically strong, often felt similar in length and placementcreating a sense of predictability after repeated listens. Some song structures follow familiar patterns that longtime fans might anticipate. These are minor criticisms, but they stand out precisely because the rest of the album feels so confident and forward-thinking.

Even with those critiques, the overall impression is undeniable!‘The New Flesh’ feels like the culmination of years of growth from a band refining its identity instead of chasing trends. The fusion of thrash aggression, groove-driven songwriting, and melodic depth creates something that feels both modern and rooted in SYLOSIS’ legacy.

SYLOSIS isn’t asking for recognition anymore.

They’re claiming it.

5.0 Out Of 5.0 Standard Tuned Riffs