Syrens Title: Self-Titled EP Label: Cavity Records Year: 2009 Rating: 3.5 / 5

Mixing aggro with balls can sometimes lead to either giving a beat down or catching one. In Syrens case, they’re the ones giving it. This pissed-off extreme, avant-garde, call it what you want metal band comes in all different angles with different blends. Their self-titled EP mixes it up with spastic grind, technical melodies and bludgeoning screams that seem to have no boundaries. The Dallas, TX natives seem to have a mean penchant for bringing the pain, apparent on this record which seemingly, spontaneous enough, sounds like songs that were well-thought instead of thrown together. There’s this nice breakdown on “People Vs. Mother Wolf” that simply spells out ‘techinically sweet’ and then explodes into a full blown metal opus with a great catchy line ‘She’s Killing Rock N’ Roll.’ “My Armageddon Reign In These Hands” transcends the bands abilities and brings forth the metal assualt that this record was built on. Syrens definitely have the chops and the makings of a great metal band. I do feel the drums were a bit lazy on the hits even though the music is out of the box anyways, the hits just felt weirdly off at some parts but other than that, the record is on point with its brutality. Guts spilled out on the floor for everyone to see Syrens self-titled EP is a winner on all levels. With the slew of bands coming out with unoriginal and uninspiring material, Syrens have struck gold and although they didn’t reinvent the wheel, they are surely close to making their own. Spastic, balls, aggro, pissed-off and techincally brutal. Now that’s what metal bands are made of.

By: Gian Erguiza