It was something of a shock to remind myself that Sylosis have been in existence for over a quarter of a century. But then the grey matter stirs, and I recall a much younger me stomping around the mosh pit in 2009’s Sonisphere as the band opened the Bohemia Stage. Since then, the band’s journey has been eventful to say the least, with Josh Middleton the one constant.
Sylosis – The New Flesh
Release Date: 20 February 2026
Words: Paul Hutchings
Recent output has been consistently well received, with 2023’s A Sign of Things To Come achieving excellent reviews. Move forward three years, and another line-up shift which sees Middleton and drummer Ali Richardson joined by new bassist Ben Thomas whilst Conjurer’s Conor Marshall moves to rhythm guitar, having covered the low-end duties on the previous two releases.
Relentless in their work ethic, Sylosis are now moving into veteran status, which blows my mind. What adds to the incendiary carnage is just how the band can deliver another album that straddles not just genres but age groups.
I have friends in their 50s who are anticipating this album more than most in 2026, and having now spent some time with The New Flesh, it is hard to see past this for a top-five contender this year.
Managing to blend sonic heaviness with melodies that haunt and hang in the memory is no mean feat. But one listen to Erased, one of the early singles from The New Flesh, provides the necessary evidence.
Yes, there are the growling roars, massive riffs and seismic breakdowns, but Middleton can also use his vocal range to huge effect. It is one beast of a song and comes early enough in this record. It is sandwiched between two gargantuan tracks, the opening hammer blasts of Beneath The Surface and the cascading riff wall that is All Glory, No Valour.
The New Flesh is rammed with anthems that should appeal to a huge audience. The chugging drive on Lacerations is complemented by some bursts of visceral Thrash alongside the mix of growls and harmonious cleans.
Mirror Mirror bursts out with a ferocity honed over the past two decades, snarling and spitting with venom and aggression. Bursts of screaming lead work run in parallel with the punishing battery that the band conjure up.
Underneath it all, there is a groove which hails from the ’90s, but Sylosis are in a place where their kaleidoscopic sound draws from others and forms an identity that is definitely theirs. Yes, the breakdowns, the riffs and the style at times echo many of their peers, such as the breakneck speed that surges through Spared From The Guillotine, but there is a distinction now that makes this truly Sylosis.
The variation in styles is one of the key attractions of this band. Adorn My Flesh is a rager underpinned by subtle synths that add flavour and layers. This is Metal for the modern day, yet there is also more than a nod to the old school. The title track demands you bang your head. A powerful and dynamic build-up explodes into a lethal melee of destructive face-melting Metal.
It is perhaps the overall combination of the musicianship, the composition and the delivery which makes The New Flesh such an exciting album. The production is sharp, complementing the razor-sharp lead work, allowing Middleton’s vocals space and ensuring that the thick rhythmic engine room brings the heft.
The anthems flow fast and furious throughout this release, but nowhere is it more apparent than on the Pummelling penultimate track, Circle Of Swords. A heady mix of tempos, ranging from Doom-rich riffs to Hardcore stomping, with Middleton bringing some of his most bruising vocals. It is a giant of a song that suddenly switches with a melodic solo that shines before the suffocating wall of intensity closes once more.
One of the biggest songs that Sylosis have ever written, this is intensity in the extreme. That it leads to the epic album closer Seeds In The River, which is just majestic, makes it even better.
Catchy enough to appeal to the wider Metal community but retaining sufficient grit and aggression to retain their loyal fanbase, in The New Flesh, Sylosis have likely pulled off the album of their long career.
The New Flesh is released on 20 February 2026 viaNuclear Blast Records. Pre-orders are available from sylosis.os.fan.
