Sylar
About
SYLAR is a celebration of self-expression, against a backdrop of down-tuned bounce, stadium ready choruses, and streetwise hip-hop flavor. The Queens, New York sonic stomp squad are positioned as a new voice for the voiceless, unapologetically championing the underdog, reigniting the rap/rock genre, and doing it all with style.
Seasons, the band’s third full-length, isn’t just an album. It’s a manifesto. In “All Or Nothing,” frontman Jayden Panesso affirms SYLAR’s dedicated solidarity with the downtrodden and outcast. “For the ones who can’t speak / for the ones who are too scared to dream,” he declares. It’s a mission statement, a post nü-metal call to arms.
“They take the Linkin Park template and update it for 21st century New York,” wrote tastemaker publication Kerrang!. “SYLAR’s slick delivery points to big things ahead.”
SYLAR crackles with unrestrained urgency and incessant energy. Guitarists Miguel Cardona (who also provides vocals) and Dustin Jennings, bassist Travis Hufton, drummer Cody Ash, and Panesso are musical disciples of genre-defining bands, adding a fresh spin for a new generation of adherents. They’ve taken the melodic might of Linkin Park, the swagger of Limp Bizkit, the atmosphere of Deftones, the straightforward bounce of P.O.D. and the heaviness of Marilyn Manson, and forged something uniquely their own, blazing a new path of individuality within metalcore.
Crafted with producer Erik Ron (Godsmack, Issues, Blessthefall), Seasons boasts the bravado of the upbeat and confident anthem “SHOOK!”, the persevering self-reflection of “Giving Up,” the melancholic romantic yearning of “No Way,” and the undefeated optimism of “Open Wounds,” about the crucial role of music itself.
For many fans, the records they listen to and the shows they attend are part of a lifestyle, as essential as breathing. The men of SYLAR are cut from that same cloth.
It’s a mentality that earned them the attention of Beartooth mastermind Caleb Shomo, who produced and mixed their full-length debut, To Whom it May Concern (2014). The band first connected with audiences as part of the All-Stars Tour and supporting Chelsea Grin and Emmure, but it was with their second album that SYLAR truly came into their own. HELP! (2016) debuted in the Top 30 of Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart and saw a handful of singles go to Number One on SiriusXM’s Octane. “Soul Addiction” even broke into the Top 40 at Active Rock radio.
SYLAR became road dogs in the process, winning over crowds on lengthy runs with Atilla, Ice Nine Kills, Insane Clown Posse, Issues, Memphis May Fire, and the Vans Warped Tour, as well as stops at major festivals like Welcome to Rockville, Carolina Rebellion, Northern Invasion, Rock on the Range, and the UK’s Slam Dunk Festival.
Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor took notice of the band and gave them a shout-out on social media. Videos for songs like “Assume,” “Dark Daze,” “Live / Breathe,” and “Prescription Medication” have accumulated over 4 million views. They’ve been to Europe with Of Mice & Men and Australia with Miss May I. SYLAR embarks on a massive tour with Beartooth alongside Knocked Loose in fall 2018.
At a moment in rock history where so many bands have chosen to play it safe, SYLAR prove unafraid to push boundaries and wear their hearts on their sleeves. Every note is delivered with unapologetic realness and authenticity. Seasons change and change brings about growth. SYLAR charges headfirst into the fray, celebrating life and smashing through adversity, while taking their audience along for the ride.