syk are relentless in their pursuit of sonic evolution. Since 2013, the Italtian band have consistently delivered avant-garde metal that will make your head not only bang but spin. Their new album is even more innovative and intense. eartHFlesh doesn’t just push the envelope. It tears it apart.
eartHFlesh comes out tomorrow, Friday, May 10. But you can listen to all eight pummeling and thought-provoking songs today on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.
Listen to eartHFlesh: https://youtu.be/XyR_SC9GMRY
Pre-order and pre-save: https://orcd.co/sykearthfleshpresave
eartHFlesh showcases syk’s deadly expertise. The album is brutal yet meticulous in its craft. Frontman Stefano Ferrian (guitars), alongside stellar performances from Marcello Cravini (guitars), Alan La Roca (bass), and Federico Leone (drums) plunge listeners into a dark and ambitious vision for progressive metal. Hard-hitting tracks such as I am the beast and the Cross are groundbreaking journeys through despair and destruction, while fitting perfectly within the album’s overarching narrative of societal decay and internal strife.
syk’s collaborative history, which includes unexpected stage performances with metal icons like Phil H. Anselmo and connections with influential labels such as Housecore Records, underpins eartHFlesh‘s significance in their illustrious career.
Praise for eartHFlesh
“The eight tracks offer an intensely enthralling listening experience that will keep fans of the genre engaged for a long time.” – Musika (90/100)
“This has to be a contender for “album of the year.” – Metal Temple (10/10)
“SYK is an interesting discovery, blending oppression and heaviness with a mysterious, suffocating touch and jerky quasi-permanent rhythms.” – Acta Infernalis (85/100)
“The Italian quartet is well attuned to each other and therefore manages to maintain the most pounding rhythms very tightly, somewhat like the extreme version of Gojira or Meshuggah.” – Rock Tribune (8/10)
“For those who clamor for darker, emotive and surprising aspects to their death metal, this is certainly worth investigating” – Ghost Cult
Tracklist
1. I Am The Beast (6:02)
2. Where I Am Going There Is No Light (5:54)
3. I’ll Haunt You In Your Dreams (6:08)
4. eartHFlesh (5:42) [WATCH]
5. The Sermon (5:06)
6. The Cross (3:50)
7. For To Themselves I Left Them (4:20)
8. The Passing (8:14)
Total runtime: 45:17
syk is a metal band that came into existence in 2013 when Stefano Ferrian and Federico De Bernardi di Valserra decided to embark on a new musical venture following the disbandment of their previous project, .psychofagist. They were soon joined by the immensely talented vocalist Dalila Kayros, whose vocal skills left a deep impression on the band during live performances.
In May 2014, syk released their debut album titled Atoma through L’Inphantile Collective. The album caught the attention of Philip H Anselmo from Housecore Records, who not only expressed his appreciation for the band’s work but also offered them a deal for their second album. This second album, titled I-Optikon, was released on December 2, 2016, and was produced by Philip H Anselmo himself. The album was notable for its technical compositions that offered a unique and unparalleled listening experience, as Metal Trenches aptly described it.
Following the release of their second album, the band welcomed their long-time friend Marcello Cravini as a permanent member, taking on the role of the second guitarist. syk subsequently embarked on extensive tours across Europe in 2017 and 2018 and had the honour of being the official support act for GODFLESH during their Italian/Slovenian run in May 2018. Additionally, they also participated in the prestigious Roadburn Festival in the same year, further cementing their reputation as a promising metal act.
In 2019, Federico made the difficult decision to leave the band due to personal reasons, and shortly after, the global pandemic hit, disrupting the band’s search for a new drummer. However, towards the end of 2020, Mauro Maraldo joined syk as their new drummer, and with their lineup complete, they wasted no time in entering the studio to record their third album. This album, titled Pyramiden, was released on March 11th, 2022, through Housecore Records/Nuclear Blast. The album’s distinct and powerful character earned syk high praise, with MetalheadCommunity recognizing them as one of the most promising metal acts of the time.
Pyramiden received further acclaim when it was included in the ProgSpace Awards 2022 under the category of ‘Album of the Year 2022/Extreme Prog Category’, alongside esteemed acts like Fallujah, Allegaeon, Cult of Luna, and Conjurer. Unfortunately, soon after the album’s release, both Mauro and Dalila had to depart from the band due to personal reasons.
However, syk, known for their sonic evolution, decided to press on. Founding members Stefano and Marcello continued working on their fourth album while actively searching for new members. Alan La Roca joined the band as the bass player, solidifying the lineup, but the search for a drummer remained a challenge. It wasn’t until Federico Leone answered their call that the band found their new drummer. With the lineup in place consisting of Stefano Ferrian as the new frontman, guitarist, and main songwriter, Marcello Cravini on guitars, Alan La Roca on bass, and Federico Leone on drums, syk took on a new form.
In early 2023, syk caught the attention of Season Of Mist, who signed them for the release of their fourth album, eartHFlesh. This album not only marks the band’s latest offering but also signifies their first decade as a band. With a reinvigorated sound and an intensified sonic progression, syk continues to captivate listeners and solidify their place in the metal scene.
Recording Line-up
Stefano Ferrian – Guitars, Vocals
Marcello Cravini – Guitars, Ambient FX
Alan La Roca – Bass
Federico Leone – Drums
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