Norwegian Progressive Rockers Sykofant Release "Red Sun" EP

 

Sykofant band photo (credit: Thomas Ellefsrud) 

Sykofant is a progressive rock quartet from Oslo, Norway. The band originally began as a creative vision board of sorts for guitarists Emil Moen and Per Semb, providing a space to experiment with music while demolishing the confines of genre affiliations. Over the course of 3-4 years, these late-night basement jam sessions evolved into Sykofant with the addition of Melvin Treider on drums and Sindre Haugen on bass. 

Skyofant's debut album was released in May 2024, and it just so happened to be one of my first full reviews for this blog. Upon hearing this rich sonic trove of an album, I was immediately captivated by Sykofant's refreshing take on progressive rock. The band remains true to the genre's framework with their experimental methodology and spectacular storytelling ability, but Sykofant has no hesitations when it comes to launching their sound far out of the box. They do this by drawing inspiration from both the 70s prog giants who founded the genre as well as some unique combinations of styles made up of funk, pop, and surf rock to name a few. Ultimately, this leads to a colorful listening experience that is indescribably immersive, rich in intrigue and surprise while still paying homage to a traditional heavy rock sound. 

Now, in 2025, Sykofant will be releasing a set of two interconnected EPs that are designed with a more modern and crisp production, while still paying tribute to the band's love for retro, analog tones. Furthermore, Sykofant intends to expand upon their use of sci-fi themes by adding some electronic elements to their sound, creating even more texture and depth. The first of these EPs, Red Sun, was released on March 20, 2025, and will be our focus here. 

Sykofant - Red Sun 

album cover art by Lars Kvernberg 

1.) Ashes 

Ashes begins on some eerie, misty, otherworldly notes, before warm tones of heavy rock slowly trickle in and intricate drum licks and rolls give a "marching into battle" vibe. As the rich vocals settle in and begin weaving their captivating fantastical tales, Sykofant's mission to create a sound that is simultaneously sharp, hazy, retro, and modern quickly comes into focus. In fact, it's one of the most unique and engaging combinations I've had the pleasure of hearing, a sound I could best describe as sepia-toned space prog. 

In true Sykofant form, the alternatively percussive and soaring music guides us along a tale both frightening and awe-inspiring, as our hero finds himself deposited in a lush green world, surrounded by strange creatures and ultimately at the mercy of their leader, to whom he makes his plea. 

"Toward the sun-dripped stones

Beneath a shade of everlasting green

Mighty temples rise from ashes of red sea

Small creatures gather 'round

A wide-eyed stranger

Lost in all the streets

Drag him to the largest temple for all to see."

2.) Red Sun

With its cold and anxious intro, Red Sun will initially leave you guessing as to which direction the song will take. However, it doesn't take long for this brief bout with fear to develop into some beachy instrumental tones, the splash of the cymbal reminiscent of calm waves rolling in. At the midway point, wailing guitar solos erupt as the "waves" grow more intense, ultimately becoming a relaxed yet confident tone. That is, until the final few notes of the song give the impression that we shouldn't ease into contentment just yet. 

Red Sun's lyrics work beautifully well with the instrumentals to communicate the narrator's desire to finally be able to find a safe place: "a place to rest my weary eyes". However, he's constantly plagued by the knowledge that establishing roots is foolish based on past experiences. 

"Red sun smear across the sky

Please, tell me it's another lie -

I hope that fate never makes me humble. 

Ripples roll through the waves - 

It's a different kind of game from now."

In a nutshell, Red Sun illustrates this beautiful, fleeting moment that, while savored for the time being, is also rife with pain and longing. Sykofant develops this very specific mood flawlessly, allowing the listener to physically feel the narrator's internal battle between desire and pain. 

3.) Embers

The longest track on the EP at just over nine minutes, Embers is filled with Eastern desert flavors. Sykofant, naturally, presents this style in the most unique and interesting way, with percussive and jolty verses that give way to an airy, smooth, ultra-melodic chorus, indicating a reprieve from a tumultuous journey: 

Sleep in the mellow hands of dawn

Breathe in the everlasting morn."

A foggy interlude that's both eerie and hypnotic seems to represent this glorious sleep, even though its ghostly undercurrent implies it would be wise to sleep with one eye open. 

All good things must come to an end, and our slumber is interrupted by a chugging riff that crescendos into chaos. It's quite possible that this was all a nightmare, haunting reminders of loss and fading memories of the past, as hinted at in the final dreamy interlude: 

"Early morning whisper streams of sunlight right before my eyes

Gold autumn leaves drift down like memories where the silence lies

Lonely footsteps echo in the hallway where the past resides

Faint reflections linger on the surface where truths collide

Fading embers warm the night as shadows start to intertwine."

 

Final Thoughts

As discussed earlier, the most notable and impressive characteristic of Sykofant's approach to music is their use of experimentation through unconventional style incorporations, complex rhythms, and intricate song structures. That was very clear to me on their first album, and it's even clearer now. However, when I read that the band intended to create a sharper, more modern sound that still incorporates that hallmark analog/vintage sound progressive rock is known for, I wasn't sure how they would do it, but they did...and they did it astoundingly well. 

This leads me to my next point: This combined use of both pristine and hazier tones aids Sykofant even more in their remarkable storytelling ability. Most notably, it greatly enhances the rich sonic landscape, setting a crystalline scene that the listener can visualize as if they were there themselves. The result is a vivid production that not only includes spectacular instrumental technique and stirring vocal ability, but certainly one of the most enthralling listening experiences you'll have this year. 

More About Sykofant 

Sykofant is:

Emil Moen - Guitar, Vocals

Melvin Treider - Drums

Per Semb - Guitar

Sindre Haugen - Bass

You can follow Sykofant and listen to their music at the following links: 

• Official Website
  
• Bandcamp
  
• Spotify
  
• Facebook
  
• Instagram
  

A massive thank you to the band for the promo! 

The Red Sun album cover art was created by the amazing Lars Kvernberg!

You can also read my full review of Sykofant's self-titled debut album here!