Breakdowns, electro synth, gritty breaking vocals and heavy beats – everything you can expect from NY based Sylar and their album ‘To Whom It May Concern’.
Lead vocalist Jayden Panesso emphasises the fact that Sylar have always aimed to reach out to audiences beyond NY. “We’ve always wanted to be more than just the hot local band in New York City. We thought bigger and that’s paying off for us now.”
The band have performed alongside a number of globally acknowledged bands including: Born of Osiris, A Skylit Drive and Sworn In. ‘To Whom It May Concern’ is the next musical venture which pushes the band and their abilities to the next level. Combining both smooth vocals and breaking screams, Panesso‘s voice compliments the experimental riffs and heavy drum beats produced by the rest of the band. Not forgetting the electro synth which distinguishes Sylar from the crowd.
‘Two-Timer’ is a seriously heavy track, showcasing a range of hair raising riffs which are balanced by playful solo interludes. Soft vocals throughout the songs chorus help to produce an experimental sound – the gritty screams only heighten the listening experience. “You’ll never be on top of the world, not even looking back”.
We can see why the band describes themselves as clean/mean. They cleverly comprise smooth and heavy vocals and force them into one super-genre. ‘Live-Breathe’ is a perfect example of this. Within a moment the band can switch between talk, soft and scream vocals – and so seamlessly blending the different vocals.
The introduction to ‘Spitting Image’ involves clean vocals, which quickly change into scream vocals with a distinguishable scratchy backing track and heavy overlaying drum beat. Born Of Osiris fans will undoubtedly enjoy this song and perhaps the album as a whole.
Concluding the 12 track album, ‘Yours Truly’, a heavy song with ever building vocals, perfectly interprets the band’s individual style. With smooth vocals chanting: “Hold your breath because I’m only here for the moment” and a slow-fast paced backing track, the song certainly takes the listener on a journey. The track concludes with a scratchy, electro sound; a repeatedly low riff and gritty scream vocals.
‘To Whom It May Concern’ is an experimental album which plays with genre normalities and blends synth-heavy rock into one sound… and successfully. If you like breakdowns and feel it necessary to ‘bounce’ while listening to an album, this is the one for you. Yes, the bounce is infectious and we know that by track 3 you will be head banging alone in your room. Clear the floor mum, mosh pit time.
