Reviews: Sumo Cyco, Tetrarch, Skarlett Riot, Sonic Desolution (Reviews By Neil Lewis, Liam True, Paul Hutchings & Alex Swift)

Their sound takes in rock, metal, pop, and electronic elements all blended with spiky riffs, sugared and spiced vocals, punk attitudes, pop sensibilities and above all some absolutely huge choruses, all of which is delivered with an energy that is never less than infectious. The influences may be apparent if you look hard enough but rest assured Sumo stamp their own identity on proceedings. The bands videos (of which there are twenty-five on their YouTube channel as of this writing) are set in a fictional area named Cyco City, which itself features its own storylines, recurring characters, and individual affiliations. Prior to Initiation the band have self-released two albums and three EPs, two of which are acoustic reworkings of previously-released tracks. As I’ve hopefully demonstrated, there is a lot going on with Sumo Cyco.

On the musical side, it would appear that the disregard for genres which the band (completed in the live setting by drummer Matt Trozzi and bassist Oscar Anesetti) has previously demonstrated is still in full effect as the musical pendulum swings from metal to rock to pop and back again, usually during the same song. If rock and metal is your thing then the insanely catchy Bystander and This Dance Is Doomed (two clear standouts in this writers’ opinion) have your back. Prefer a pop-leaning sound? No problem, try a dose of No Surrender or M.I.A. Want something a little more relaxed (relatively speaking of course)? In that case Run With The Giants and Awakened are more likely to be your bag. Other high points of the album include forthcoming single/video (and Skye’s favourite song from this release) Bad News which features an irresistible staccato-ish riff and the obligatory sing-along chorus, Cyclone which apropos to its title is bursting with prickly energy, and the electronically-led Overdrive which features the lyric “I’m addicted to the chaos” which seems very fitting. Overall, the electronic elements, which have always been part of the signature Cyco sound, are much more pronounced this time around but it’s nothing more than a natural progression from their earlier releases.

Although much of this third full length was written and recorded in pre-pandemic times the lyrical themes are both timeless and relatable, dealing with universal subjects such as internal conflicts, overcoming life' obstacles and self-empowerment. As Skye mentioned during an interview with this blog in 2019 "I want people to feel more empowered by listening to our music but that doesn’t mean I want to sugar coat real feelings and emotions." The lyrics to Run With The Giants are the very embodiment of this approach.

One thing I would like to point out is the oft-overlooked matter of the album’s running order. The way music is consumed these days means that albums don’t always need to be structured to be listened to in one session, but to these ears Initiation appears to have been arranged for precisely that. Each song contributes to the ebb and flow of the various styles the band’s sound encompasses with there never seeming to be too much of one element together, so the more aggressive moments are always balanced by the lighter ones. As an example the fifth single, Vertigo (which, along with Overdrive are the first songs produced and co-written by someone outside the band in the form of Kane Churko who has previously worked with Ozzy, Five Finger Death Punch, In This Moment, Hellyeah and Papa Roach), almost sounded like an anomaly when it was released given its focus on electronic sounds compared with the previous guitar-led singles. When placed in the context of the full album however it sounds right at home. The only track that feels somewhat misplaced on the version used for this review is the closer Awakened, but this is largely due to its apparent status as a bonus track, meaning it’s inevitably placed at the end. In my opinion this song would have fitted better earlier on; if it was up to me I’d put it in between Run With The Giants and Overdrive but I suppose that’s what custom playlists are for.

As its title implies Initiation will be the introduction to the band for many and as such it should score highly with new listeners as it’s so accessible, especially with those catchy choruses and hooks. For existing fans it should score even higher, being both a refinement and evolution of the band’s sound and song writing skills which results in their most rewarding and accomplished album yet. As evidence of this I invite you to give Bystander a listen and just try and get the “Oh na na” chorus out of your head. At some point when something approaching “normality” returns the band will be touring the UK for the eleventh time and when that time comes I also invite you to go check them out as the stage is where they truly shine, being one of the most electrifying live acts around. Finally, I would also like to invite you to join the Cyco family. Welcome to Cyco City... enjoy your stay!

Sonic Desolution employs a varied sound palate – elements of orchestrals wind their way throughout these seven tracks with grace and exquisiteness. Indeed, for as often as they can sound decidedly retro and drawing on sounds fostered by acts before them, they sound innovative and unique. Take the opener Explorer. Beginning on stark violins, desolate keys, and sanguine acoustics there are elements of folk here, yet it’s twisted into something far darker. Once we get to the body of the song, the clash of keyboards against fuzzy distortion creates a reminiscent quality, yet the unorthodox song structure fused with the ethereal backing vocals, the weaving electronics, and mournful pianos continues to foster a sense of the strange. This is certainly a challenging piece as it’s’ not charting a course in any direction. Rather, there’s an abstract quality at play that artfully fuses influences in a way that can feel inspired yet can also be alienating, especially as many of these compositions occasionally seem content to be deliberately intangible. 

The Waltz plays with changeable tempos and an instrumental palate which while not as varied as that of the first track is incredibly sonically detailed in a way that is fascinating yet also fascinatingly perplexing. The choir-esque chanting in the chorus mixed with the circling arpeggios is one moment that stands out in my memory, yet much of the piece feels wraithlike, immaterial, and hypnotizing. I don’t say that as a negative either – it’s certainly the case that lots of thought went into this, yet I would need to be in a very particular mood to immerse myself in this piece again. The same can be said of Eye To Eye, although I do gravitate to this one more for its often beautiful focus on bright, defined melodies that swirl and dazzle, inspiring the listener with both the intricate complexity and the enigmatic joy at the heart of the anthem. For all of their weirdness though, one of the key influences underpinning Sonic Desolution's sound is that of musical theatre. Nowhere is this clearer than on the album's centrepiece Midlife Insight where the vibrant harmonies are put front and centre and more than any other song here there is a sense of storytelling both in the journeying instrumentation and the sanguine observations of life, age, and mortality which permeate the lyrics. Don’t get me wrong, like every other moment on this album, this one takes some adjusting to. If you can see past the multi-faceted, occasionally confounding nature though, there’s a shining track here.

 
If you’re looking for ‘accessible’ this record has that in short supply. There’s no shame in that either – I enjoy a challenge, but even I had to sit with this for a while before sitting down to write this review. However, if I had to recommend a part to give casual listeners of prog and experimental music an idea of what tone Explorer is going for, without utterly puzzling them, I’d probably say Fair Warning. More minimalistic and reserved, there’s a mystifying quality to this track that transcends any preconceptions you might have had about the more bewildering aspects of this act, for nine minutes of splendour and exquisiteness. Likewise, as much as New Beginning marks a return to the avant-garde antics, the progressions feel clearly defined, and each new idea – from the neoclassical concepts in the opening seconds to the jazzy ideas which close us out – considered and thought through. However, much as I can say that I admire these musicians for creating something so meticulous and deliberate, I can’ honestly say that my attention holds up all the way through and for each successive listen, by the time I got to Tranquilandia I was exhausted and distracted. 

Don’t get me wrong – after listening to the closer and all the other individual tracks in isolation from each other, I can find elements to appreciate about each of them and many sections to love and adore. However, I feel this is an experience where the complicated stylings will be a barrier to entry for some. At least, this was the case for me. I appreciate this music and could even see myself warming to Explorer in time. For now, though, I grant my respect, without a promise to return anytime soon. 7/10