Methal Kyrios: Síndrome Oscuro |

With The Speed Syndrome

(2021 – Cuervo Records)

The art of searching for reviewing, and listening to different albums is something that should never be missed. And I’m not talking about the digital stuff, but rather that old, healthy sport of browsing through bins and record stores to find things that might otherwise be overlooked, especially considering that, in general, heavy metal doesn’t get much press coverage or appear in the mainstream media. This is even more true for bands from the interior of Argentina, who have to work three times as hard to make themselves known.
Methal Kyrios is quite a find for us, I have to admit. It’s true, the band has been around for a few years, but we’ve only just become aware of them. The band from La Pampa has a lot to say and a lot to play. This album, titled “Síndrome Oscuro,” is a good example of that.
Methal Kyrios’ sound is old-school thrash metal. We can think of bands like Exodus as one of their possible influences, in addition to the great exponents of the genre; all in a simple, straightforward, but forceful proposal. The band is formed by Mauro Queupul on bass and vocals, Santiago Robles on guitar and backing vocals, and Federico G. Montero on drums and backing vocals. A trio that, with intelligence, grit, power, and strength, manages to capture an album that spits fury and speed in every track included.

In any case, “Síndrome Oscuro” is Methal Kyrios’ second album, released in 2021 and with a great production behind it, especially for an underground band. In that sense, we have a very well-done and polished work.
“Presagio” is the intriguing intro that precedes what is to come, “Espejo De Metal,” an explosion of pure thrash that really blows your mind. Methal Kyrios attacks right from the start, and as if that weren’t enough, “Puertas Del Sueño” continues in the same vein, firing off tremendous riffs and speed everywhere.
At a medium and staccato pace, “Sepulturero” marks something different, but without neglecting the intensity that Methal Kyrios subjects us to from the beginning. Next comes the title track of the album. “Síndrome Oscuro” is synonymous with pure power, with its strumming riffs and bass lines that give it an intense pace.
With a sound closer to traditional heavy metal, without losing the essence of thrash metal, “Devorando Especies” offers a different vibe, but if there’s one thing we’re sure of, it’s that “La Imagen,” the next track, is not only one of the best on the album, but also showcases the hardest, most powerful, and most versatile side of Methal Kyrios. Its guitar solo is truly breathtaking, and if we add to that its interesting string arrangement, we can see that this band from La Pampa is not just about blast beats everywhere. There is a musical richness that makes their sound much more captivating.
“Herencia Seré” continues in the vein of bouncy, headbanging riffs, with twisted, dry, and sharp riffs, while ‘Traición’ stands out as one of the most rotten and hard-hitting tracks on “Síndrome Oscuro.” Along the same lines is “Fuego Cruzado,” which also features some guitar riffs and solos more typical of traditional metal.
Towards the end, we find “Resistir,” another thrasher explosion that shows us that Methal Kyrios is something to be reckoned with, and as the last track, we find a kind of bonus track: a live session version of the song “Subterráneo,” which belongs to Methal Kyrios’ previous work, serving as a sample of how the band sounds live.
“Síndrome Oscuro” is a positive evolution for Methal Kyrios from their previous work, “Disipando Tinieblas,” which is equally thrilling. The excellent production, the concept developed for this album, and the composition stand out, resulting in a fairly varied album within a genre, such as thrash metal, that does not offer too many twists and turns in its style. In that sense, some things that Methal Kyrios adds to their music stand out, such as some riffs and bass lines that elevate their sound.

The album was recorded between 2019 and 2020, which we understand complicated its release a bit due to the well-known pandemic. The work done in the studio paid off, as the mixing and mastering are really worthwhile, achieving a sound that combines heaviness and clarity. The percussion hits are noticeable, and the guitars fly alongside a bass that also does its thing. What can we say about the vocals… really great. All in all, it’s a great job in the studio. The perception is that the sound is devastating.
The artwork is no slouch either. The cover follows the genre’s style and we thought it was fantastic, as its interpretation leaves no room for second meanings. It couldn’t be clearer. The inside of the book also features other great illustrations that reflect the message of each song on the album, as well as photographs of the band and, of course, the lyrics. These are Christian in concept but without falling into clichés, instead shouting social, political, and personal truths with the rage that characterizes old-school thrash metal.
In short, “Síndrome Oscuro” is an interesting work that sounds like a band of this genre should sound. This album particularly shakes our brains, and as we mentioned, it is available in both physical and digital formats. You can find out how to get it through the label “Cuervo Records” at https://www.facebook.com/CuervoRecords. As usual, we provide you with Methal Kyrios’ social media links so you can follow them and keep up with their latest news. We also leave you with some of the music videos released by the band for the songs “Resistir” and “Síndrome Oscuro” from this great album….

https://www.facebook.com/Methal.Kyrios.Oficial

https://www.instagram.com/methal.kyrios.oficial