As far back as 2019, I reviewed a Cyhra record and said at the end: “They don’t need defining by what they did previously, just praising for what they do now.”
And that is always the thing with the so-called supergroup. They are almost defined by who their members are, and in Cyhra’s case those names are impressive enough. Jake E, formerly of Amaranthe, on vocals. Jesper Strömblad, now of The Halo Effect and formerly of In Flames. Drummer Alex Landenburg, known for his work with Kamelot and Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody. Guitarist Euge Valovirta of Suburban Tribe. Bassist Peter Iwers of The Halo Effect.
That is a serious pedigree, obviously. But they have been doing this for a decade now, and as I said back when I reviewed their second record, they have carved out a proper niche of their own.
Fast forward, then, and here we are with “Requiem Of A Pipe Dream”.
“Bleed With Pride” is exactly the sort of modern metal they promise. Crunchy, slightly overblown, and certainly very European in the sense that it verges on power metal without ever quite giving itself over completely.
Likewise, “Superman” is made for fists-up choruses, and Cyhra are the type of band you could see at a festival at 2.40 in the afternoon and end up deciding they were the band of the day.
But what has made Cyhra such a proposition over the years is that they do not simply follow a formula. There is something unsettling about the verses of “Miss Me When I Am Gone”, maybe a little like Stabbing Westward back in the day, before the chorus opens the thing out.
All the class in the line-up is on display on “Ghostbound”. The way they make melody and heaviness meld is impressive, not least because they make it look so easy.
“In The Center Of A Miracle” is like a modern power ballad. It sounds incredible, gargantuan in scope, and very much designed to fill every inch of whatever room it is played in.
“Skin From Bones” contains a rap, which I am not sure anyone saw coming, plus some seriously downtuned guitars. Even then, though, they cannot resist a soaring chorus.
“Ghost I’m Meant To Be” is another one that revels in the shadows, and that light and shade is really one of the defining features of this record. It undulates from heavy to melody seemingly at the drop of a hat, but never sounds forced.
That is because Cyhra understand that the song is king. It always is. You can hear that in the new version of “Mark Of My Sins”, and you can hear it again in “Venom In Me”.
It is also a feature of this record that they make these songs sound epic without ever letting them become lengthy for the sake of it. “Box With Spirits” is proof enough of that.
It all ends with a special guest and a proper, proper metal gallop, as Samy Elbanna shreds his way through “Hold Your Fire”, and there is a real sense of fun about it.
And really, isn’t that what this is? A group of mates enjoying the music?
Well, yes and no. Because “Requiem Of A Pipe Dream” proves yet again that even if Cyhra began life with the dreaded side-project tag hanging around them, they are way better, and way more, than that.
Rating 8/10
