Finally, after three long years of waiting Sylosis return to performing live, starting off their come-back tour at London’s Islington Assembly Hall with main support from Dyscarnate. This tour will be also promoting Sylosis’ latest album Cycle of Suffering which fans have eagerly waited the last five years for. Let’s go!
After an unfortunate twenty-minute technical delay, the night began with three piece Dyscarnate more than making up for it with the wall of energy, pounding riffs and growling vocals that come with the opening track ‘Of Mice and Mountains’. The penultimate song ‘Nothing Seems Right’ was performed for the first time ever which was met with a rapturous applause from this sold out show in the Islington Assembly Hall. Ending on ‘This Is Fire’ had every chest pummelled as the rippling blast beats from the drummer ricocheted through the crowd. This is a band to be reckoned with and clearly deserved the main support slot. Tom and Al bookend the stage, splitting the vocals between them as Matt skilfully lays down the beat.
You couldn’t imagine that Sylosis haven’t performed live for over three years. Their hour-long set was not only relentless but phenomenally tight, even though Josh (near the end of the show, on one of the rare occasion there was talking) humbly admitted he was nervous to play again, citing problems with his left hand. Evidently there was enough kinetic energy built up that only three and a half songs in, Josh orders for a circle pit, which easily consumed the front half of the circle standing area.
After the forth song, Josh intro’s the band members and apologies for the band being quiet for so long which was met with a rapturous applause. Despite being Sylosis’ first gig back, of the fourteen songs performed throughout the night, only three where live debuts from Cycle of Suffering. Namely opening with ‘I Server’, followed swiftly by ‘Calcified’ leaving ‘Cycle of Suffering’ until a little later through the show. Not that the crowd minded as they gleefully chanted and lapped up every sweet lick.
With no disrespect meant, for a band who don’t ‘do’ a huge amount on stage, their music easily provides more than enough energy for the crowd to enjoy themselves. With a little help from the bassists’ highly committed head banging and windmilling skills, seemingly having an insatiable and unquenched appetite for whipping all that hair around. It’s incredible how you can create so much energy without being flashy, relying almost purely on technical skill alone to whip up a frenzy.
To me, Sylosis are the absolute antithesis of what it is to be British. Dress unassumingly, be quite reserved (Josh is well known for not being the most talkative front man) don’t rely on anything too flashy or gimmicky, be humble and yet absolutely nail your job and quietly go home. There’s a real sense that no one in the band has an ego and I think that helps garner respect and an unspoken appreciation for the band.
Tying up the night, Sylosis open their encore with ‘Conclusion Of An Age’ and close with ‘Empyreal’ bringing an unforgettable return to their live performances after three years of silence. Let’s hope that they continue to perform together for many more years.
