In reaching for perspective through an array of sociopolitical, existential and fantastical subjects Istiaia, Greece-based technical thrash metal trio SYPSIS illustrate a perilous view of humanity’s affliction on this long time coming sophomore full-length album. Built around ‘old school’ underground thrash metal informed taste and sensibilities ‘Annihilated Existence‘ aims for an approachably organic presence, rugged but specific in their approach to the progressive and technical sects of the niche. Their work is forgivably esoteric for the sake of the jaggedly cut and oddly voiced thrash metal that it manifests, a sort of homebrewed intensity which fans of the sub-genre will appreciate for its coldly thoughtful off-kilter touch.

Sypsis was conceived by way of bassist Ignatios Stamatonikolos ca. 2012 after the split of his progressive rock band, quickly putting together their initial quartet formation who’d produced an EP (‘Hypnosis‘, 2014) and a full-length album (‘Playground of the Dead‘, 2015) between ’em. Though you can hear some structural influence from Watchtower, Sadus and possibly Aftermath in some of that early material those are definitely homebrewed releases with vocals that are whispered, croaked in a way that makes them difficult to sit through. That might still be the case for some listeners for this second album, esp. folks outside of underground thrash metal spheres, as they’ve become a duo (plus session drummer Vasilis Nanos) in the years since and now Stamatonikolos additionally performs lead vocals in a similarly rasped/spoken timbre. While the vocals still sound like a placeholder which lack direct conviction the band’s musicianship has otherwise skilled up in the last decade.

With a full decade gap felt within their discography it behooves Sypsis to reintroduce themselves with a big introductory swing and I’d felt opener “Poverty to Destructive Forms” hit more like an immediate dunk into their tunnel vision for late 80’s technical thrash metal tension, a not-so mechanical coldness delivered in seeming decry of socioeconomic injustice. It is a strong piece to start, zoning the ear through into its mid-paced grooves and crooked lines of self-interruptive riffcraft where the details aren’t wildly dense but the band’s intensity is tightly wound. The half-speed Megadeth-bitten jog through “Hades” right after kills some of their incoming momentum as one of the longer, arguably more characteristic plods found on the full listen. It isn’t the most electrified start to a thrash metal album for my own taste but they’re able to pick the pace back up and find their own groove toward the middle of this relatively brief ~35 minute album.

“Under Siege” is short and to-the-point enough that it’ll catch your ear on the way through but in my experience Side B carries the weight, holds the major value of their offering here beyond the opener. I’d point to “Mortals Torment” in particular as one of the faster, more active and intricately puzzled together pieces of the lot but “Point of Emptiness” is also worthy mention as a somewhat more straight forward piece and despite a few of it’s leads dragging behind the song. The full listen of ‘Annihilated Existence‘ is unevenly cut and doesn’t necessarily hit an outrageous technical standard of performance within its delve yet there is plenty enough that these folks get right in crafting a severe sonic personae from ‘old school’ technical/progressive thrash metal forms. — Though I’d walked away from Sypsis‘ latest record impressed, finding it repeatable and compellingly stated throughout, yet unable to shake the feeling that their vocals hadn’t done their material any justice. A moderately high recommendation.

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