Reviews list for Synestia & Disembodied Tyrant - The Poetic Edda (2024)

As many of us know, the current decade of the 2020s is the ongoing pinnacle of symphonic deathcore with bands like Worm Shepherd and Lorna Shore enhancing it with their grand heavy gems. Meanwhile, two lesser-known bands Synestia and Disembodied Tyrant were putting their own spin to the genre with their collaboration EP The Poetic Edda, 4 tracks of excellent technical symphonic neoclassical deathcore!

Both two-man bands who had each previously made a couple EPs/albums have united for a blend like barely any other. Symphonics, neoclassical leads, and brutality all form a clever cauldron of epic deathcore in a more whimsical while still destructive way than any other band has done.

The beginning track "Death Empress" is total symphonic madness as neoclassical leads and launched forward alongside the deathcore technicality. Then it ends with one of the best, most pulverzing breakdowns I've heard in a long time. Also, while they utilize synthesized strings and choir, rather than a full orchestra, the symphonics sound much closer to film-score orchestra than in any other band of the genre possible. "I, The Devourer" continues taking on the brutal verses and symphonic sections. I love when the hardcore riffing clashes with the metal soloing for a fantastic result. The amount of technical riffs and leads add in some fun modern chaos not too far from Rings of Saturn.

The title track keeps up the sound we've been hearing so far, although this time, it has a couple slight flaws to prevent the album from reaching a perfect 5 stars. Don't get me wrong, everything is solid and deathly especially in the breakdowns. The small issues lie in how tiring they get, particularly in the guitars and strings that are still enjoyable. But it's made for by the guest vocals from Shadow of Intent's Ben Duerr. And eliminating all doubt even further is the grand finale, "Winter", a deathcore reconstruction of the Vivaldi classic, complete with the band's own lyrics. There's no way anyone can review this EP without mentioning this majestic glory. An overused classical composition is given a more brutal treatment filled with blasts and breakdowns. I hope people in the future will know this reimagining as much as the present world knows the original.

So the question is, would this EP be worth adding to The Guardians, given that it has a significant amount of upvotes for neoclassical metal in RYM? I'm gonna go with no. It sounds too brutal for the clan with the death growls, crushing riffing, and breakdowns, despite the symphonics and neoclassical leads are just yearning to allow it in the clan. Dragoncorpse, this is not. Anyway, let's hope for another collaboration EP like The Poetic Edda. Despite one track being a little iffy, this offering is too impressive to lose!

Favorites: "Death Empress", "Winter"