Although the Canadian nu-metal / punk-pop outfit have been making music since 2011, Sumo Cyco have only appeared on the radar this year. Big style. And get this – this very album was originally released over a year ago… in Canada. Now available worldwide, ‘Lost In Cyco City’ is the band’s way of saying ‘We’re here mofos!’
Sumo Cyco make videos of so many of their track, their first album could almost read like a ‘Best Of’. The opening track is ‘The Ugly’ where their biggest influences are made clear: Skindred and No Doubt. Nothing wrong with that at all, we need a bit of sunshine in our aggressive rock lately. Front-woman SEVER’s vocal and the backing ‘whoa-oh-oh’ echo more recent tracks by Benji Webbe and co. It’s not easy to pinpoint a band like Sumo Cyco: Equal parts nu-metal, post-hardcore and ska-punk. there’s even touches of industrial elements of Rob Zombie or Static X. This is only the first track!
The following track ‘Go Go Go’ is another display of raw energy and show female fronted bands in 2015 don’t need to sound like Paramore to make a great album. This track follows more in the steps of Stefani in the 90s with Bizkit-bating riffs. ‘Fighter’ is the latest single from this album and is a good way to find out if your a Sumo Cyco fan. has all the elements of SEVER’s bad-ass vocals mixed with hard-hitting guitars and pounding drums. This track could of been released in 1999 and still get airplay today. I can just image all the alternative kids at school wearing the album’s artwork on the back of their black hoody.
The energy ensues with fan favourites like ‘Cry Murder’. It sounds like the Canadian band wouldn’t have trouble punching another album out in no time. ‘Like A Killer’ stands out as it sounds a little more Korn-meets-Britney. Quite a combo that actually sounds pretty awesome.
‘Get Off’ is a track from the Fred Durst school of rock ballads. A dash of trip-hop, a sprinkle of punk and spoon-full of metal rawness. In all this album reminds us how fun metal and rock can be when you do something a little different. Other than the likes of In This Moment and classic bands like Papa Roach, there isn’t anyone exploring the experimental genre of nu-metal anymore. A shame, seeing as there were many avenues to explore before Evanescence and Nickelback came to ruin the party. Sumo Cyco might be the unsung saviours of hard rock and women in the rock industry alongside Maria Brink. ‘Lost In Cyco City’ is a great portfolio of the upcoming Canadians. The future is definitely sumo-sized for this band.
4/5
Read our interview with Sumo Cyco by clicking here
