SUMO CYCO

Initiation NAPALM

Canadian pop metallers put more emphasis on the slick than the kick

Sumo Cyco have unleashed their third love-it-or-hateit effort in a Marmite-esque career, but you’d be hardpressed to admire this disjointed collection of jams. If you’re in the market for deep lyrical content and mind-melting riffs, look away – but stick around if you crave forced melodies that wouldn’t sound out of place on the Eurovision stage. Much like its predecessors, Initiation strives to reach a league well beyond its own, littered with janky guitars and try-hard vocals that constantly miss the mark – especially on No Surrender. It’s charged with threatening intent on paper but emerges about as frightening as losing your mum in Tesco. The likes of Bystander and

Overdrive might be enough to stir a live crowd, but critically fail to capture any energy on record and certainly won’t occupy your thoughts for long. ■■■■■■■■■■

FOR FANS OF: New Years Day, Falling In Reverse, Stitched Up Heart

ALI COOPER