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Sylosis - Dormant Heart



7.7 | 196 votes |
Release date: 12 January 2015
Style: Melodic death metal, Progressive thrash metal

Owners:

143 have it
23 want it


01. Where The Wolves Come To Die
02. Victims And Pawns
03. Dormant Heart
04. To Build A Tomb
05. Overthrown
06. Leech
07. Servitude
08. Indoctrinated
09. Harm
10. Mercy
11. Callous Souls
12. Quiescent
13. Pillars Erode [bonus]
14. Zero [The Smashing Pumpkins cover]

Additional info
Guitars and vocals recorded in March 2014 at Wizard Sound Studios, Reading, England.
Drums recorded in May 2014 at Monkey Puzzle Studios, Suffolk, England.

Staff review by
R'Vannith
Rating:
8.5
Britain's Sylosis neatly cut out the generics of not one but two of metal's categories in their flexible fusion of melodic death metal and thrash. Theirs is a specifically fresh and individual approach, wilfully endeavouring to set themselves apart as an evident outlier in modern metal. With the push for originality which many contemporary bands in melodic death would set out to achieve by incorporating variations of thrash or metalcore into their sound, the former exceeds its foundations in the style and success of Dormant Heart.

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published 09.01.2015 | Comments (10)

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Comments: 54   Visited by: 677 users
15.01.2015 - 23:37
Zap
Guest
Written by flightoficarus on 15.01.2015 at 23:32

I give them a few more points back for that given this is Josh's first time taking on vocals in addition to guitar.

Josh did both vocals and guitar on the previous two records. He's also the main songwriter.
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15.01.2015 - 23:47
Rating: 6
flightoficarus
Stamp Tramp
Written by Zap on 15.01.2015 at 23:37

Written by flightoficarus on 15.01.2015 at 23:32

I give them a few more points back for that given this is Josh's first time taking on vocals in addition to guitar.

Josh did both vocals and guitar on the previous two records. He's also the main songwriter.


That's odd. I just heard an interview he did the other day where he said this was the first album he has done it on? Maybe I missunderstood. If anything that's just more points off. I knew he was the main songwriter though.
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15.01.2015 - 23:49
Zap
Guest
Written by flightoficarus on 15.01.2015 at 23:47

That's odd. I just heard an interview he did the other day where he said this was the first album he has done it on? Maybe I missunderstood. If anything that's just more points off. I knew he was the main songwriter though.

Haha, nope, when I saw them live it was definitely Josh doing the 'singing' and shredding.
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15.01.2015 - 23:51
Rating: 5
Ilham
Giant robot
Written by flightoficarus on 15.01.2015 at 23:32

More oversaturated pseudo-metalcore masquerading as melodic death metal.

Even when metalcore gets the closest to what metalheads love the most, it cannot win and remains cited like an insult.
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15.01.2015 - 23:59
Rating: 6
flightoficarus
Stamp Tramp
Written by Ilham on 15.01.2015 at 23:51

Written by flightoficarus on 15.01.2015 at 23:32

More oversaturated pseudo-metalcore masquerading as melodic death metal.

Even when metalcore gets the closest to what metalheads love the most, it cannot win and remains cited like an insult.


But the thing is, I like metalcore. I grew up on Poison the Well and I own every As I Lay Dying Album. If you look at my collection, I am a little bit embarrassed to say that despite all of the later life purchasing of more extreme bands, metalcore is STILL the largest percentage of what I own. There are some solid metalcore acts out there, this is not one of them.
----
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16.01.2015 - 00:06
Rating: 5
Ilham
Giant robot
Written by flightoficarus on 15.01.2015 at 23:59

But the thing is, I like metalcore. I grew up on Poison the Well and I own every As I Lay Dying Album. If you look at my collection, I am a little bit embarrassed to say that despite all of the later life purchasing of more extreme bands, metalcore is STILL the largest percentage of what I own. There are some solid metalcore acts out there, this is not one of them.

Okay, it just sounded like an attack on a whole genre just because you dislike this album. You're entitled to your opinion on the album and the quality of the metalcore penchant of it, of course. I still haven't listened to it, but just because of this, I will.
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16.01.2015 - 00:09
Rating: 6
flightoficarus
Stamp Tramp
Written by Ilham on 16.01.2015 at 00:06

Written by flightoficarus on 15.01.2015 at 23:59

But the thing is, I like metalcore. I grew up on Poison the Well and I own every As I Lay Dying Album. If you look at my collection, I am a little bit embarrassed to say that despite all of the later life purchasing of more extreme bands, metalcore is STILL the largest percentage of what I own. There are some solid metalcore acts out there, this is not one of them.

Okay, it just sounded like an attack on a whole genre just because you dislike this album. You're entitled to your opinion on the album and the quality of the metalcore penchant of it, of course. I still haven't listened to it, but just because of this, I will.


lol the fact that I spurred any action at all can be counted as a success. But yeah, my attack is on this album; not the band or the genre. I wholly encourage anyone to form their own opinion with a listen. Feel free to check out my metal archives review once it is approved and we can argue the finer points.
----
Daily underground metal recommendations at Metal Trenches.
Listen to the Trench Talk podcast.
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16.01.2015 - 00:56
basquetal

This album is surprisingly incredible, not a single bad song on it, and it is definitely a grower. People who just gave him a couple of spins, please give it another chance, I found myself unexpectedly having fun with this album, and i didnt like their past albums so much.
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16.01.2015 - 01:59
Rating: 10
Lord_Agony

Great album, not their greatest but it definitely made the wait worthwhile
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16.01.2015 - 02:34
Rating: 8
musclassia

Written by Guest on 14.01.2015 at 14:35


Yeah they definitely nail badass artwork. They have that going for them at least 8]


Glad you like something about them! yeah their art is generally great; if I wasn't such a fan of the band I wouldn't have so much merch from them, but I'd probably still have some out of sheer admiration for the t-shirt and album designs they produce/use. The frontman does some quite nice art too

Written by deadone on 15.01.2015 at 00:17

Quote:
Still might be worth checking earlier releases though. I swear they sounded better, though I might be remembering wrong. Most other people seem to think so.


Will do.



Judging from recent comments I've seen from you on here I think we're probably looking for different things from music, but if you haven't already it might still be worth checking out some stuff from the last couple albums at least, even if you find sitting through their whole running lengths prohibitive. Even as a huge fan of the band, this album does feel somewhat less inspired and varied than Edge of the Earth and Monolith - it's certainly good enough for me to very much enjoy and not be disappointed by, but it definitely doesn't floor me in the way those albums did, so I can definitely see why someone not as enamored with their sound might find it a bit flat. If you prefer riff-focused hooky aggressive stuff, A Dying Vine, Serpent's Tongue and Out From Below might be reasonable acid tests for whether there's anything in the band you're likely to enjoy.

Also, I'm surprised by your statement that you can't see the thrash in the album. Admittedly, this is probably less thrash-y than the last couple, but even though their sound isn't obviously the typical thrash sound (which I think is a good thing, considering it was probably the surge of dime-a-dozen retro-thrash Exodus/Testament tributes a couple of years ago that pretty much killed my passion for thrash), there's definitely a perhaps more extreme and melodic yet clear thrash core to their sound, most obviously on this album for me on the likes of Indoctrinated, Victims and Pawns and Callous Souls. And Monolith and Edge of the Earth are definitely thrash albums at their cores, even if there are other elements to their sound. I completely understand people not liking the album/band, and I agree any prog elements aren't particularly prominent, but I'm surprised at people not classifying them as thrash, and also referring to them as metalcore, something I haven't found particularly notable in their sound since their first EPs and full-length.
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16.01.2015 - 08:43
Uldreth

Written by deadone on 16.01.2015 at 03:55

So Monolith is even less thrashy. Definite melodic death metal meets metalcore.

And it's far, far better than Dormant Heart - better sound, better song writing, better melodies, better riffs, sounds organic and not contrived/forced unlike bits of Dormant Heart. The different influences are far better integrated - not as many obvious "this is melodic death bit, this is thrash bit, this is the bit we are influenced by Mastodon." The length is fine too whereas Dormant Heart was boring me by the end. It's going on the "buy" list!

Man... I absolutely don't hear metalcore in either Edge of the Earth OR Monolith, aside from like very minor elements. There is probably more metalcore in Shadows Fall's The Art Of Balance, which is something I classify as thrash anyways.

Their first album, Conclusion of an Age, which doesn't seem to have much of a following here does have significant metalcore elements though, and is also a great album. It basically sounds like Trivium's Ascendancy with waaaay better vocals and much better songwriting (also it is a different vocalist, so if you don't like the current, his vocals might be up your alley).

But anyways, I'm glad you're liking Monolith, also check out this song from EotE:

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16.01.2015 - 12:14
Rating: 5
_deepblack

Im even more disappointed with this album than monolith album i start listening to Sylosis with Conclusion Of An Age album and they became more cliche in monolith and now this is it covering smashin pumpkins great tracks in a shitty way and their best track is Quiescent .
this album has nothing to do with Sylosis its like a new Metalcore / Thrash band that decided to be extreme in every way and doesnt know what he wants in his music .
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17.01.2015 - 18:13
Zap
Guest
I'm afraid my rating will keep dropping with each listen so I'll just leave this album for now and maybe listen again in a year.
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17.01.2015 - 18:28
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
Written by Zap on 17.01.2015 at 18:13

I'm afraid my rating will keep dropping with each listen so I'll just leave this album for now and maybe listen again in a year.


That's looks more like a worry than a problem.

Relax, if you think your rating might go down with every spin; don't worry, listen to an album once and for all and give your final rate. This will help you a lot.

I've followed this *strategy and has always favour me the way it should be.

Look, going back after awhile and listen to this record won't change your taste. At least not for me.

*follow me on twitter of you like my strategy.
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17.01.2015 - 18:48
Zap
Guest
I don't know what you're blabbering on about but every time I listen to this album I think less of it. Hence why my rating drops. It's just a number after all.
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18.01.2015 - 12:22
Rating: 8
SergioBv

Hmm.. this album isn't bad, has some good riffs, a couple of really good songs ('Leech' and 'Mercy'), but the overall feeling is cold. (6,9/10)
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19.01.2015 - 11:02
Rating: 9
AssailantForce

Written by Zap on 15.01.2015 at 16:49

No one is complaining about it not "being prog enough," some people just don't agree with the "progressive thrash" tag it has here.


Ah.. I see.. good answer : True, this does not qualify anywhere close to prog thrash I've heard at-least musically. I don't think there is lyrical concept unravelling across the album (atleast, I don't see one). This I say purely in relative terms. I still think the song-writing is 'progressive' in general, as it doesn't stick predominantly to one subgenre rather tremolo picks between thrash, melodic death, and slower traditional metal.

Written by flightoficarus on 15.01.2015 at 23:32

More oversaturated pseudo-metalcore masquerading as melodic death metal.


Firstly, it's none of my business what anyone else likes or hates. I only contest remarks I find misleading or confusing.
Firstly can you point me to the instances/moments on this album which strike to you as metalcore?
Let me state my views first -
I've given multiple spins to this record and I can point thrash, melodic death or even doom sections with some ambiguity. There are Josh's screams but the thing is, screams don't qualify as core unless employed over a predominantly core-ish compositions. In fact I'd cite Chuck Schuldiner literally screaming 'Scream Bloody Gore' on the song 'Scream Bloody Gore' off the decorated death metal album 'Scream Bloody Gore'. I'd say this instance is stylistically similar to Josh executing his melodic screams at times. Granted the instance is small but Chuck delves into consistent screaming in later years. So would you call Death as being psuedo-Deathcore for this?

Written by musclassia on 16.01.2015 at 02:34

Admittedly, this is probably less thrash-y than the last couple, but even though their sound isn't obviously the typical thrash sound (which I think is a good thing, considering it was probably the surge of dime-a-dozen retro-thrash Exodus/Testament tributes a couple of years ago that pretty much killed my passion for thrash), there's definitely a perhaps more extreme and melodic yet clear thrash core to their sound, most obviously on this album for me on the likes of Indoctrinated, Victims and Pawns and Callous Souls.


Totally agree. Well it's hard to stand out being a typical thrash bands. I have a feeling they are not looking to be unique but indulge themselves as a tribute band or 'revive' the cult however one would put it. It's not too bad too but I know you'd rather exodus to exodus I however like Lich King very much despite the annoying punkish vocals which I've grown to bear with.
And yes! especially Indoctrinated - a proper thrash metal song that wanders into a doom inspired atmospheric landscape only briefly.
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21.01.2015 - 20:58
Rating: 7
musicalkaratekid

To me this sounds like a stronger, more ambitious album than its predecessor, Monolith. There are songs that stand out from others, notably 'Victims and Pawns' and the title track and for that reason the rest of the album didn't particularly impress me as much. Nonetheless, the band's instrumental performance continues to prove solid, and they deserve their status as one of UK's more promising metal groups.
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22.01.2015 - 07:15
Rating: 9
AssailantForce

Written by deadone on 22.01.2015 at 00:33


The vocals come across metalcore. Not a criticism - there's nothing wrong with metalcore.

Also there's a commercial proggy sludge vibe occassionally i.e. there's a few bits that remind me of Mastodon in the guitars and overall vibe of it.


I get why you'd feel that and it makes sense. However the screams with infrequent growls pattern - more particularly, the pitched screams that Josh does here, is more similar to Vocalists - Joe (Gojira) or Samuel (Ex-Hacride) than to Tim (AILD) or Oli (BMTH).
My point - Screams, while being prominent in metalcore, is obviously not exclusive to it. So if Josh's vocals is the only bridge linking Sylosis's Dormant Heart to metalcore, then objectively, the bridge is too weak to tread on

Finally a person who agrees with sludge vibe! Taking this angle to almost anyone I did felt like this

P.S I love me some metalcore. Sure they may plot to murder their ex-wives every now, but at-least they don't burn churches.
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15.02.2015 - 09:22
Rating: 7
Ace Frawley
The Spaceman
My first album of 2015 and my first by Sylosis. Not disappointed. Some enjoyable songs on this one - in fact the whole album is good.
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The sun shines over The Fool...
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09.04.2015 - 22:25
Rating: 9
Toxik

Since i discovered i Sylosis i turned out being a fanboy. So this album is probably no exception to me. Well this is one is pretty diferent from the previous records. It has a Gloomy feeling in some songs that just feels great. Yes it's not Prog at all but if you listen to the song Edge Of The Earth you will definetelly hear some prog elements in the middle of the song. Bact to the album, this is just perfect in Sylosis levels and some songs are some of the best songs by them (Victims And Pawns, Dormant Heath, Indoctrinated Callous Souls, etc)
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10.09.2016 - 00:25
Rating: 7
Deadmeat
Necrobutcher
After their debut, which was really good and promising, nothing managed to grab my interest... probably wont bother with them again...
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Υou've sold your human essence to the cold world of dead and empty things... You're SOLD!
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03.06.2017 - 16:00
Written by Zap on 17.01.2015 at 18:48

I don't know what you're blabbering on about but every time I listen to this album I think less of it. Hence why my rating drops. It's just a number after all.


In my opinion an album only shows it's lasting value after years of listening. That's why I focus on buying albums only if I like them years after their original release. This has worked for me, might not be the case for you though.
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03.06.2017 - 16:23
To anyone who doesn't like the vocals of their albums a whole lot, I'm surprised not to have read about their guitarists solo project. Josh Middleton released an instrumental album called "Hollowed-Out Planetoid", which you might get into. To me it's pretty awesome background music.
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