Lookaway
It's not often that a record creates such a stink that it becomes a struggle to finish listening to it. This isn't some challenging, difficult album - Sylar aren't Swans - To Whom It May Concern is just execrable in its calculated welding of past music trends to impotent teenage rage.
Musically, Sylar combine decrepit, third wave nu-metal riffs to soaring EDM keys and metalcore breakdowns. Vocally, the approach is generally a throaty hardcore/deathcore growl accented with the odd saccharine clean vocal and, predictably, a rap on the band's Linkin Park moment: the drippy Never Let it Go and again later, on an attempt to ape Slipknot's eponymous album called Substance. Hmmmm.
The album begins with a scratchy synth of Skrillex proportions before the band lock into a juddering riff with wrecking ball drums as a backdrop on Prescription Medication. That sets the template for all twelve sonically repetitive tracks. Singer Jayden Panesso roars that "the story ends without a sequel" on Yours Truly and one can only hope he is good to his word.
What you have here then, is a calculated attempt to employ previous models for commercialising outsider music such as heavy metal, hip-hop and dance music. Namely, take the edges off and mash them all together. This mongrel though, instead of being the sum of its parts, feels weak - built on insufficient foundations.
If furious cheese is your thing I would suggest an overheated fondue instead of To Whom It May Concern, at least that will be tasty and the stink only fleeting.