Sylosis - Dormant Heart (2LP) - 10th Anniversary Clear + Blue/Black Marbled Vinyl

Dormant Heart hit in January 2015 through Nuclear Blast, and it still feels like the most sobering chapter in Sylosis’s catalog. The Reading, UK group had already proven they could weld Bay Area thrust to European melodicism, but this one lives in a colder climate. It’s slower in places, heavier in mood, and laser focused on atmosphere without losing the intricate riffing that made the band a cult favorite.

Part of that weight comes from the performances. Josh Middleton’s rhythm work stays tight as a vice, then blooms into those harmonized lines that recall both classic thrash and the more modern, progressive edge Sylosis carved out on earlier records. His vocals took a grittier turn here too, more scarred than on Monolith, which suits the lyrical themes of apathy and corrosion. Alex Bailey keeps the leads sharp and purposeful rather than flashy, while Carl Parnell holds the center with a bass tone that actually cuts through the guitar wall. Drums were handled by Ali Richardson, then of Bleed From Within, who came in for the sessions and later joined the lineup. He plays with a fighter’s balance, shifting from blast-flecked sprints to tumbling, tom-heavy patterns that give these songs their looming gait.

Production-wise, Dormant Heart has that dense, granite feel fans associate with the band’s work with longtime collaborator Scott Atkins and Grindstone Studios. The guitars stack without smearing, the cymbals breathe, and the low end punches instead of smothering. It’s not a flashy mix. It’s built to last, and it lets the arrangements do the storytelling.

“Mercy” was the calling card single for a reason. The main riff has that churning, triplet pull that Sylosis do so well, then the chorus opens into a melody you can sing without the song losing its teeth. “Leech” digs in harder, riding a mean groove and a chorus that feels like a slow, rising threat. “Where the Wolves Come to Die” stretches time, starting with an ominous build before snapping into lockstep. And then there’s “Quiescent,” the long closer that sprawls into post-metal territory. It’s patient, bleak, and strangely beautiful by the end, a curtain-drop that lingers in the air. You can hear a band trusting space as much as speed.

Context matters with this record. In 2013, Sylosis were involved in a serious tour vehicle crash in the States, and the fallout forced them off the road. You don’t need a lyric sheet to guess how that kind of shock and recovery wormed its way into the writing. Dormant Heart reads like a reckoning with numbness and with systems that grind people down. Middleton talked in interviews around release about aiming for a darker, slower record, one that traded some of the constant velocity for a deeper coil of tension. That choice paid off. The songs feel more lived-in and more ruthless in their focus.

It also wound up being a line in the sand for the band. After Dormant Heart, Sylosis went quiet for a stretch while Middleton stepped into Architects, eventually returning with Cycle of Suffering in 2020. For several years, this album stood as their last word, and it held up under the pressure. You can hear echoes of classic British heaviness in its bones, but the songwriting never leans on nostalgia. It’s the sound of a band doubling down on identity when the easy move would’ve been to chase trends.

For those spinning [Album] vinyl, this one’s a treat. The slower, heavier contours breathe on wax, and the clarity in the midrange lets the harmonies and acoustic textures peek through without losing the punch. If you’ve been hunting for Sylosis vinyl, Dormant Heart is a smart anchor for the shelf, and it pairs neatly with Edge of the Earth if you like tracing their evolution. You can buy Sylosis records online without trouble these days, though finding earlier pressings can mean some digging. Collectors looking for Sylosis albums on vinyl will appreciate how sturdy the packaging tends to be from Nuclear Blast as well.

If you’re browsing a Melbourne record store or combing through vinyl records Australia and that stark cover stares back at you, don’t overthink it. This is one of those heavy records that rewards long attention. Put it on, let the first side grind the day off your shoulders, then flip and give “Quiescent” the room it deserves. Dormant Heart isn’t just a strong metal album from 2015. It’s a chapter marker for a band that’s refused to settle for anything less than something that sticks.