Syk release drum playthrough for “the Cross”

SYK

Release Drum Playthrough for

“the Cross”

Federico Leone Dissects the Tech-Death Precision

of eartHFlesh Standout

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Syk - the Cross (Official Drum Playthrough)

Syk – the Cross (Official Drum Playthrough)

Italian progressive extreme metal quartet SYK present a new drum playthrough video for “the Cross,” taken from their fourth full-length album eartHFlesh. The track, originally released as part of the band’s Season of Mist debut, stands as the shortest composition on the record yet one of its most concentrated displays of technical control and dynamic evolution.

Clocking in at 3:47, “the Cross” channels a sharp tech-death attitude through an intricate opening guitar figure that quickly transitions into a groove-driven foundation.

In this focused performance, drummer Federico Leone reveals the structural backbone of the composition. His approach balances restraint and escalation, reinforcing the hypnotic core of the riff while gradually introducing complexity through layered accents, shifting subdivisions, and dynamic control. As Leone explains:

I chose The Cross for this playthrough because it shows how drum arrangements can shape and drive a song built around a hypnotic, obsessive riff. The goal during the writing process was to create evolution and tension through subtle variations, adding new layers without taking space away from the guitars, before pushing into some of the fastest and most intense sections I’ve recorded, including high-speed double bass and blast work.

Watch the drum playthrough for the Cross: https://youtu.be/_aO18-cijFY

Recorded at Fiery Water Recording Studio in Alessandria, Italy, and produced, mixed, and mastered by Fabrizio Gesuato, eartHFlesh marks syk’s first release through Season of Mist and solidifies the current lineup of Stefano Ferrian on guitars and vocals, Marcello Cravini on guitars and ambient FX, Alan La Roca on bass, and Federico Leone on drums. Following the band’s sonic progression from Atoma through Pyramiden, this playthrough offers a detailed look into the rhythmic architecture that defines their latest chapter.

eartHFlesh was released May 10th, 2024 via Season of Mist.

Order & Stream: https://orcd.co/sykearthfleshpresave

As the eartHFlesh cycle continues to expand beyond the studio, syk are set to perform two shows in Sicily this February:

27 February 2026: Siracusa, IT @ Sonica Circolo ARCI
28 February 2026: Palermo, IT @ Mind House

These performances will present material from eartHFlesh in its most immediate form, carrying the album’s controlled aggression and introspective weight into a concentrated live setting.

Tracklist:

1. I Am The Beast (6:02)
2. Where I Am Going There Is No Light (5:54)
3. I’ll Haunt You In Your Dreams (6:08)
4. eartHFlesh (05:42)
5. The Sermon (5:06)
6. The Cross (3:50)
7. For To Themselves I Left Them (4:20)
8. The Passing (8:14)
Total runtime: 45:17

Country: Italy
Genre: 
Progressive Black/Death Metal
FFO: 
Rivers of Nihil, Gorguts, Gojira, Meshuggah

Photo by © Filippo De Dionigi

syk is a metal band that came into existence in 2013 when Stefano Ferrian and Federico De Bernardi di Valserra decided to embark on a new musical venture following the disbandment of their previous project, .psychofagist. They were soon joined by the immensely talented vocalist Dalila Kayros, whose vocal skills left a deep impression on the band during live performances.

In May 2014, syk released their debut album titled Atoma through L’Inphantile Collective. The album caught the attention of Philip H Anselmo from Housecore Records, who not only expressed his appreciation for the band’s work but also offered them a deal for their second album. This second album, titled I-Optikon, was released on December 2, 2016, and was produced by Philip H Anselmo himself. The album was notable for its technical compositions that offered a unique and unparalleled listening experience, as Metal Trenches aptly described it.

Following the release of their second album, the band welcomed their long-time friend Marcello Cravini as a permanent member, taking on the role of the second guitarist. syk subsequently embarked on extensive tours across Europe in 2017 and 2018 and had the honour of being the official support act for GODFLESH during their Italian/Slovenian run in May 2018. Additionally, they also participated in the prestigious Roadburn Festival in the same year, further cementing their reputation as a promising metal act.

In 2019, Federico made the difficult decision to leave the band due to personal reasons, and shortly after, the global pandemic hit, disrupting the band’s search for a new drummer. However, towards the end of 2020, Mauro Maraldo joined syk as their new drummer, and with their lineup complete, they wasted no time in entering the studio to record their third album. This album, titled Pyramiden, was released on March 11th, 2022, through Housecore Records/Nuclear Blast. The album’s distinct and powerful character earned syk high praise, with MetalheadCommunity recognizing them as one of the most promising metal acts of the time.

Pyramiden received further acclaim when it was included in the ProgSpace Awards 2022 under the category of ‘Album of the Year 2022/Extreme Prog Category’, alongside esteemed acts like Fallujah, Allegaeon, Cult of Luna, and Conjurer. Unfortunately, soon after the album’s release, both Mauro and Dalila had to depart from the band due to personal reasons.

However, syk, known for their sonic evolution, decided to press on. Founding members Stefano and Marcello continued working on their fourth album while actively searching for new members. Alan La Roca joined the band as the bass player, solidifying the lineup, but the search for a drummer remained a challenge. It wasn’t until Federico Leone answered their call that the band found their new drummer. With the lineup in place consisting of Stefano Ferrian as the new frontman, guitarist, and main songwriter, Marcello Cravini on guitars, Alan La Roca on bass, and Federico Leone on drums, syk took on a new form.

In early 2023, syk caught the attention of Season Of Mist, who signed them for the release of their fourth album, eartHFlesh. This album not only marks the band’s latest offering but also signifies their first decade as a band. With a reinvigorated sound and an intensified sonic progression, syk continues to captivate listeners and solidify their place in the metal scene.

Recording Line-up:
Stefano Ferrian – Guitars, Vocals
Marcello Cravini – Guitars, Ambient FX
Alan La Roca – Bass
Federico Leone – Drums

Guest Musicians:
Dalila Kayros – Guest Vocals (On ‘I Am The Beast’, ‘I’ll Haunt You In Your Dreams’, For To Themselves I Left Them’ & ‘The Passing’)

Recording Studio:
Fiery Water Recording Studio (Alessandria, Italy)

Producer, Sound, Mixing & Mastering Engineer:
Fabrizio Gesuato

Cover Art:
Nihil & Leoncio Harmr

Biography:
Sébastien Gamez

Order & Stream: https://orcd.co/sykearthfleshpresave

Follow Syk:
Bandcamp: https://syk-official.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syk_officialband/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4mAhDco0hekGonexJ7ZdNG
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwGCWRkavCbr7DanM6W7wvw

YouTube (Federico Leone): https://www.youtube.com/@federicoleonedrummer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/syk.official
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/syk/1589837870
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/album/290956952

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12″ Vinyl Jacket — Black
12″ Coloured Vinyl Jacket — Silver
12″ Coloured Vinyl Jacket — Crystal Clear & Red Marbled