Sylosis – The New Flesh
Release Date: 20th February 2026
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Metalcore, Thrash Metal, Progressive Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Groove Metal, Hardcore.
FFO: Revocation, Allegaeon, Rivers of Nihil, Unearth, Trivium, Orbit Culture, Pantera.
Review By: Rick Farley
“The New Flesh. A towering testament to destructive riffing, incisive melody and refined brute force, the bands seventh full-length offering is a powerful showcase for the state of Sylosis in 2026: lethal, uncompromising, and avowedly metal as hell.”
Now I don’t know about you, but if I were new to a band and I read those words, I assuredly would be pretty stoked to check the band out. Granted in a lot of cases these are just mere emptiness used to grab your attention, but in the case of Reading, Berkshire based Sylosis, a band that’s been destroying necks since 2008’s Conclusion of a New Age, those words ring devastatingly true.
Sylosis is not an easy band to pin down musically, this veteran band is rooted heavily in modern thrash, groove, and metalcore with elements of progressive, and melo-death. They’re known for energetic, ferocious, riff heavy, hook filled beaters that could incite pit violence at any given second but are also all very accomplished musicians that compose engaging songs with tremendous virtuous skill. Add in the fact they’re also capable of slowing things down with evocative balladry that’s heart-wrenching and emotionally supercharged, and you would be hard-pressed to find many things to actually complain about. Unless you’re stuck in the bands past. I’ve been on board since 2012’s Monolith and can tell you with ease that their whole discography is rock solid. Nothing less than modern metal done exceptionally well with some of the sickest riffs around.
The New Flesh on the surface is much sharper, faster, heavier and with pure savagery in its heart, than 2023’s A Sign of Things to Come but is not just a lesson in mindless ferocity, The New Flesh is also the bands most thought-provoking, evocative album to date with the emphasis on incisive songwriting. The brutal guitar riff wizardry, ruthless low end, punishing groove laden drums, ripping solos and hellish growls/gorgeous cleans are all there. Devastating hooks merged with thrashy speed and engaging choruses all make up the band’s soundscape. In that aspect, you’re getting exactly what you’re expecting from this record, just reinvigorated with an exuberant back to the youthful high energy just plug in and play days. Opener Beneath the Surface is a good example of this, relentlessly thrashy, high octane frenetic energy with crushing chuggy grooves. Razor sharp and precise from start to finish this is a stylistic Sylosis track with some serious balls. All Glory, No Valour is another that just wants to wreak havoc with frenzied riffs and chest thumping drums. High-speed thrashing with killer gang vocals and a sickening hardcore breakdown that will easily snap your neck. Track four Lacerations takes a more melodic arena metal approach with monstrous riffs and anthemic vocals. In between the fluctuating pace of colossal heaviness and piercing speed is a thoughtful, catchy sing along chorus that’s nearly impossible to not get stuck in your head. The metal ballad Everywhere at Once is a track that may split fans of the band right down the middle, but honestly, it’s done so well that it works on every level. Real emotion is felt, it’s written masterfully, and far from just being sappy filler. Plus, there’s so many badass riffs and killer tracks here that you should be able to deal with some emotion, you poser.
Whether you’re a fan of specific genres or a mix of them, there’s always room for good ole fashioned metal. Bands like Pantera, which are not always easily categorized but are blistering, vicious, heavy enough to pulverize bone to dust, forcing you to uncontrollably headbang and just have a good fucking time. Bands like that are necessary. That’s what The New Flesh is and is all it needs to be. “Skull-shattering, 21st century heavy metal.” Easy recommend.
(4.5 / 5)
