Album Review: Siren’s Over Sumeria – Self Titled

Put your headphones on, grab a controller, put Sirens Over Sumeria’s new album on repeat, and blast some virtual zombies. Since 2012, Sirens Over Sumeria have been working hard on their take of progressive metalcore. In 2014, the band hit Moosehead Studios with Joe Din to record their self-titled album before connecting with Andrew DeSanctis at Enslaved Sound Productions to mix and master the release. After teaming up with Imminence Records last year, they have a new album set to be released on May 19th. Sirens Over Sumeria combines the influences of the likes of Memphis May Fire, August Burns Red, I The Breather, The Amity Affliction, and In Hearts Wake. With raging breakdowns, technical fretwork, and video game based lyrical content, it is no wonder the band has quickly risen up the ranks and turned heads.

The album opens with “Cipher”, bound to be one of the best tracks on the album. The breakdown in Cipher is outstanding which only makes the listener want to see what the rest of the album has in store. The album has a three phase set, ‘Phase I: Revelation’,’ Phase II: Paradise’, and ‘Phase III: Vox Populi’. The combination of these three phases set you back. The synthesizers add a delicate tone to the second phase and still the song continues to shred. ‘Vox Populi’ demonstrates how hard Jesse Morin has worked on developing his voice. I can only assume with where Jesse’s voice is at now he hasn’t had to work on much. His talent is demonstrated on multiple occasions throughout the album. The entire album also has some amazing guitar work that sets the tone for the breakdowns. Guitarists Demir Mehovic and Aaron Stacey are a force to be reckoned with. As young as they are, they have a lot of time to expand on their skill sets.

Towards the end of the album, I was pleasantly surprised by what seems to be a rarity in the genre; ‘Medicine Man,’ and ‘Hypocrites & Heretics’ both carry positive messages, and encourage the listener to strip their insecurities. Iin today’s technologically social era, it’s easy for people to be controlled by such things. Don’t think that positivity is the only theme of Sirens Over Sumeria; in stark contrast, Sirens Over Sumeria can motivate killing sprees upon killing sprees while playing your favorite ‘shoot ’em up’ game. Sirens Over Sumeria has a lot in store for their genre and I hope to see their success unfold. Pick up a copy of their album on May 19th and expect to be impressed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYpzigWNoYA

https://www.facebook.com/SirensOverSumeria

Reviewed by Kyle Scranton