Norwegian prog rockers Sykofant impressed this scribe greatly by means of their stunning and deftly executed EPs, namely the self-titled one from 2024 and the intriguingly named Red Sun from last year. Their outputs have been nothing short of expansive-sounding, forward-thinking, and above all musically fearless so far, so where does that leave us with their latest offering, Leaves, which saw the light of day just a few weeks ago?
Last year I had the great pleasure of witnessing the talented group live on stage, and it was a night to remember in the sense that they played their evocative and moving songs with proper gusto and genuine passion. If you do get the chance to watch these chaps in a live setting, by all means do so. Until then, do yourself a huge favour and check their uniquely flavoured and utterly original brand of psychedelic prog rock out.
As usual, I digress, but the point that I am trying to make is that the perfect starting point if you are new to Sykofant may well be this brand-new effort of theirs. It weaves their various influences from jazz, art rock, psychedelia, and epic hard rock together rather seamlessly and to great effect. Adventurous and explorative yet concise and disciplined, the melodies soar throughout. There is an abundance of clever twists and creative turns, of left-field ideas and lovely surprises, and not least of small moments that somehow turn into something majestic and unforgettable.
Never before have their compositions packed as much emotional punch as the ones that constitute this strangely beguiling little gem do. Just listen to ‘Roots and Canopy’ and revel in its dynamics and how it balances grit and tenderness. There is an almost quiet reflection present in the whole of Leaves that is heartfelt, and although it is “merely” a three-song EP on paper, it is akin to a deep and meaningful experience rather than a collection of tracks.
With Leaves, the members of Sykofant keep their peculiar spark intact and venture into a musical territory that borders on the wistful and yearning at times. This merely adds to the wonderful variety and unpredictable nature of the song material. The Sykofant odyssey has been immensely interesting so far and quite the rewarding journey for both the band and its adherents. With yet another compelling work under their collective belt, it does appear as if their potential is boundless and that the sky is the limit for the four of them.
Leaves by Sykofant was released on the 23rd of January via Sycophantastic Records.
