SYK Release New Drum Playthrough Video for ‘The Cross’

For the past decade, syk have been relentless in their pursuit of innovation. The Italian band’s latest album doesn’t just push the envelope of progressive, groove-laden death metal. eartHFlesh tears it apart.

“This has to be a contender for ‘album of the year’”, Metal Temple wrote in 2024 upon sinking its teeth into eartHFlesh.

Today, syk are releasing a new drum playthrough for “the Cross”, one of the most concentrated displays of technical prowess and dynamic evolution on eartHFlesh. The song channels a sharp tech-death attitude on top of drummer Federico Leone’s groove-driven foundation. Leone balances restraint and escalation, reinforcing the hypnotic core of the riff while gradually introducing complexity through layered accents, shifting subdivisions and dynamic control.

“I chose The Cross for this playthrough because it shows how drum arrangements can shape and drive a song built around a hypnotic, obsessive riff”, Leone says. “The goal during the writing process was to create evolution and tension through subtle variations, adding new layers without taking space away from the guitars, before pushing into some of the fastest and most intense sections I’ve recorded, including high-speed double bass and blast work.”

eartHFlesh is out now on Season of Mist. Order & Stream: https://orcd.co/sykearthfleshpresave

Catch syk in their native Italy this weekend.

February 27 – Siracusa, IT @ Sonica Cicolo Arci
February 28 – Paermo, IT @ Mind House

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 (05:42)
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.