EP Review: Sypha – Borderland

Borderline is the new atmospheric EP of hard riffing brilliance from British metallers Sypha. Whether it’s the soaring chorus on opener ‘Dirty Floor’ or the frantic hardcore verses on ‘Limbo’, there is something exciting for every metalhead. Formed in 2022, the band take from heavyweight heroes such as Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones, and Bring Me The Horizon, but also merge the craft and hookability of Blink182, Halestorm, and Marmozets.

The first track, ‘Dirty Floor,’ introduces the EP with a thumbing big riff that combines melodic drama and crushing heaviness. There is no missing singer, Alicia Pilling, at the helm of this band. Captivating, all honey sweet at times, but at the flip of a drumstick, she turns into a sinister gothic siren or bellowing punk rocker. Check out the emotively powerful middle eight, followed by the guitars dropping straight into hell.

‘Limbo’ hits you with its gritty and dirty verses. Its an explosive track. Fiery vocals make this a highlight of the EP and, no doubt, the live arena. The band know how to use the dynamics, blending softer riffs and bringing the drums in and out for maximum effect. Ensuring the entire sonic wall of sound is one cohesive brutal rock behemoth that smothers the listener.

Final track ‘The Afterparty’ is a rampaging monster that carries on the energy from ‘Limbo’. If ‘Dirty Floor’ demonstrates a touch of technicality to the band’s music, then ‘The Afterparty’ is a brutal sledgehammer. The guitars bite and rage as the drummer self-combusts by the end. Pilling comments: “The track incorporates our classic contrast of dark lyrical content with energetic and catchy music.” She continues, “We feel that the song is as huge in the recording as it is live.” Which is a noticeable vibe for the whole EP. There is an excitement here that is often missing from many a bands work.

The entirety of this EP is full of huge energy. Each track stops nothing short of pulverising the listener. The riffs are insanely heavy in places, contrasted with Pilling’s vocals. She knows when to turn it on, and turn it on she does. Luckily, the rest of the band do, too. Chalk this one up as one of the year’s best heavy rock EP’s.

Check out the video for track Limbo, below:

Find out more via the bands Facebook

Stream the EP here