Norwegian Prog Band Sykofant to Release Self-Titled Debut on May 31
syc·o·phant
/ˈsikəfənt,ˈsikəˌfant/
noun
- a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
Sykofant is a Norwegian progressive rock band founded by Emil Moen (Guitar, Vocals) and Per Semb (Guitar, Vocals). Both members of this duo actually originated from the Norwegian thrash metal band Tantara, and the formation of Sykofant provided a way for them to expand their musical horizons without the confines of genre affiliations. A short time later, Melvin Treider (Drums) and Sindre Haugen (Bass, Backing Vocals) joined the band, and recording on Sykofant's debut album began in July 2023. The album is conceptual and was inspired by 70s style sci-fi and psychedelia while broaching topics such as time, alienation, search for meaning, and humanity's relationship with nature.
Sykofant has a wide range of musical influences from both past and present including: Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Yes, Rush, Madrugada, Opeth, Mastadon, and Porcupine Tree. Knowing this, it doesn't come as a surprise that Skyofant has mastered the art of infusing progressive rock as we know it with a modern energy, while also experimenting even further with genre. With all of this going on, you get a little bit of everything in the best way. I think the band says it best:
"The drums are jazzy, yet forceful. The bass lines heavy, yet funky. The guitar solos virtuosic, yet catchy. The riffs harmonic, yet chaotic. The vocals energetic, yet longing...kindled in your cochlea and climaxing in your brain."
With that, let's take a deeper look at the album itself.
Sykofant's Self-Titled Debut
Let me preface everything by saying this track-by-track review is perilously close to being a live react in text form; as soon as I heard snippets of each single Sykofant had released at the time of this writing, I knew I wanted to do a review right away. While there are only six tracks here, rest assured that there's certainly an entire album's worth of content here.
1. Pavement of Colors
The opening track begins in a delightfully jazzy way. The bass is heavy, keeping the song anchored, while shimmering percussion and guitar provide a lighter element. The song grooves into more of a bluesy, desert psych form, culminating in some heavier guitar work as the melodic vocals grow more intense and throaty. It's very cool to hear these styles working so flawlessly together, flowing so seamlessly. While the subject matter on Pavement of Colors touches upon the rather unhealthy state our planet is currently in, the song itself is quite upbeat.
2. Between Air And Water
Another bass-heavy intro ushers in Between Air and Water, leading into some rather eerie, apprehensive guitar and wailing solos. The vocal harmonies on this song have a retro rock sound, a very 1970s classic rock feel that's done unbelievably well. About a quarter of the way in, some choppy, heavy rock guitar and energetic percussion urge the pace on, itching to take things further. The second guitar matches the frenzy after a time, creating a beautifully chaotic jam that really makes you stop and appreciate Sykofant's amazing musicianship. Between Air and Water moves out with a combination of the trepidation and powerful energy, a summation of the song itself. Overall, this is reminiscent of the stages of a thunderstorm: dark and looming, thundery beginnings, white hot lightning, a downpour, then ominously rolling out over the horizon as if to say, "Don't get too comfortable, I'll be back."
3. Monuments of Old
This song begins with some thumping bass that, to my ears, mimics an anxious heartbeat. Cautious but light and ethereal guitar and percussion join in, while the wailing second guitar is doing just that, wailing like a dirge; it's soaring but there's also an element of mournful longing. Out of nowhere, the first guitar begins an ultra choppy riff that ultimately leads into something you wouldn't expect: a straight-up Rush tribute! That little surprise nearly had me jumping up from my chair and screaming with excitement. Not so fast, though... Sykofant keeps things moving as they just as quickly launch into an awesome bluesy psychedelic movement. I don't know how else to say it, but there's an immense amount of power behind this entire song. Of course, that's not surprising during that awesome nod to Rush there in the middle, but even in parts where I think a lot of bands would have seized the opportunity to, I don't know...take a little break? Sykofant just keeps going. And to say that energy is infectious would be an understatement. There's very little vocal on this song (and the vocal that is present is super powerful and commanding), but I was so busy rocking out and marveling at how well these guys can play that I didn't even notice. This song would quite literally blow the roof off of the place when played live, no doubt about it.
4. Between the Moments
Between the Moments does slow the pace down (initially anyway), with some introspection and more emphasis on the vocals that allow you to focus a bit more on the lyrics, which are primarily about regret. The song speeds up about halfway through, losing the melancholic vibe and trading it for rollicking bass, melodically gruff vocals, and rocking proto-metal guitar. The lyrics, however, remind the listener that this song, at its core, focuses on the war waged in one's own mind.
5. Strangers
Strangers begins with a delightful retro rock swagger that ultimately takes on a more apprehensive tone with some hypnotic guitar and vocals that remind me slightly of Greg Graffin of Bad Religion (a total compliment). These vocals recount the moments leading up to death, as the narrator lies vulnerable in the elements, and the mental journey that ensues, ending in acceptance:
"I see
Serpents that slither
Mirrors of old
Death is welcoming me
I've been led astray
Unsure what to say
The time I have left is finite
The stranger in me
There is a life for me
Beyond the comprehension
I'll wait for it
I'll wait"
Midway through the song, we're treated to a killer surf rock jam fest. This reads as trippy to me in this context, as if the narrator is starting to become delirious as his life slips away under the unrelenting sun. This abruptly ends about three minutes later with the sound of nothing but echoey, eerie vastness that last for the remaining three minutes of the song, symbolizing the narrator's death.
This might be my favorite song on the album. I love the way it moves, starting off a bit cautiously (raging "against the dying of the light", as Dylan Thomas would say) before gaining optimism in the form of acceptance, deliriously embracing defeat, tempted by the promises of the afterlife.
6. Forgotten Paths
Forgotten Paths begins very gently with acoustic guitar and calm, melodic vocals that sing of feeling lost despite being in familiar surroundings, utilizing some lovely imagery. This is something I think many of us can relate to. A percussive electric riff and thumping bass lead into the next segment of the song, an emotive yet upbeat instrumental break. This seems to be representative of the conflict within the narrator's mind, certainly reminiscent of occasions when you know that you're supposed to feel a certain way, but you don't, and can't.
Final Thoughts
Sykofant has all the elements of a great progressive rock band that you'd expect: a concept to work with, longer-form songs that utilize tempo and pace change-ups, countercultural themes, and skilled musicianship. However, Sykofant is not your dad's prog rock band, (even though chances are your dad's prog rock band is pretty cool, to be honest). While there are certainly plenty of amazing nods to some of the greatest, most established prog rock bands out there, Sykofant creatively and skillfully gives the genre a modern twist with elements of pop, jazz, funk, and surf to name a few. Overall, this contemporary take on progressive rock succeeds in keeping things incredibly interesting and never boring in spite of the longer run time of the songs.
In that same vein, I can be a bit of an impatient music fan, often finding songs over 6 minutes or so to be a bit excessive. For this review, I listened to the full versions of all songs on the album (the longest being over 14 minutes long) and never had the urge to tune out. However, I do appreciate that Sykofant also provides radio edit versions of many of their songs, perfect for my fellow impatient people or when you just want a smaller taste of prog. Additionally, I have to point out that the band uses some great artwork as the images for each of their songs when played on streaming services such as Spotify or Soundcloud, each art choice being incredibly fitting for its song.
More than anything, Sykofant's debut album had me constantly marveling at the proficiency of these musicians. This is not a band composed of some dudes just messing around, each musician (vocals included) is obviously an expert in their craft, knowing the ins and outs of their instrument. I think the thrash metal background of half of Sykofant's members probably comes in handy here, particularly on the complex and fast guitar parts. Even so, the band and the album never come off as pretentious, even though they have every right to be. In spite of its virtuosity, the album is still very apprehensible and relatable.
If I could think of one word to describe this album, it would be epic. This a thoughtfully composed, sophisticated artwork that not only pays homage to the music of decades past, but masterfully layers in modern elements that work together to take the listener on an epic journey that explores our relationships with both ourselves and our world. I really hope this band ends up getting the attention they deserve!
More About Sykofant
Sykofant is:
Emil Moen - Guitar, Vocals
Melvin Treider - Drums
Per Semb - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Sindre Haugen - Bass, Backing Vocals
You can follow Sykofant and listen to their unique take on progressive rock at these links:
Go show Sykofant some much-deserved love, and be sure to check out their debut album when it drops on May 31! 
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