Source: Album Artwork
In 2004, Skye Sweetnam was a teen pop sensation who took Canada by storm. These days she’s better known as Sever, the lead vocalist of punk metal band Sumo Cyco and generally one badass icon of female empowerment. The band released their debut back in 2014, and this month sees the release of Opus Mar, the follow up which firmly establishes the four piece in to their chosen genre.
If you analyse the lyrics, the sugar sweet past of Sumo Cyco’s lead singer will begin to seem less unusual. Though, naturally, the heavy nature of the instrumentals and Sever’s occasional scream prove she is not only capable of succeeding in this genre but that she is serious about it— something that a number of critics did question around the release of the band’s first album. Single ‘Anti-Anthem‘ has already become a fan favourite, leading to Sumo Cyco’s PledgeMusic campaign to fund the album reaching a whopping 249%.
‘Move Mountains‘ enlists the help of Skindred vocalist Benji Webbe, the only guest feature on the record but brilliantly executed. As Skindred themselves do, Sumo Cyco take influence from music styles such as reggae in this track, creating a unique experience that makes them much unlike any other artists you may have listened to before. Sever provides the killer vocals, but it’s guitarist Matt Drake, bassist Ken Corke and drummer Matt Trozzi who really steal the show on this record with their slick, professional delivery.
‘Passengers‘ on the other hand seems to be more influenced by punk, being played out in a fast paced, high energy package complete with the recurrent theme of a breakdown— though, interestingly, these vital few seconds see the band delving in to an electronic style. Clearly, Sumo Cyco are not opposed to anything.
Truthfully, this is a band that doesn’t receive the full amount of credit they deserve. Regardless of what was happening ten, fifteen years ago, this is a rather decently talented metal band with a bright future ahead of them. They may not be to everyones’ tastes, but the fact that they’ve achieved so much in only six years is evidence enough that they’ve got the determination and material to be a success.
