CyHra – Letters To Myself – Album Review
Artist: CyHra
Album Title: Letters To Myself
Label: Spinefarm Records
Date of Release: 20 October 2017
I have been desperate to review this album ever since I knew of its existence, several months ago, maybe even longer. Unfortunately, until recently, I only had access via an Internet stream, so my opportunity to listen to it was limited to say the least. I hate reviewing music without having first given it a full, detailed listen, so I delayed until I had better access to it. And huzzah, with download access, I have now been able to absorb this record sufficiently to offer my considered thoughts about it.
The reason I was so excited about the prospect of this album is because of the clientele involved. I seem to have used the dreaded word ‘supergroup’ a few times recently, but that term is very much justified here. CyHra is the collective noun chosen for a quartet of musicians comprised of ex-Amaranthe vocalist Jake E, the ex-In Flames duo of guitarist Jesper Stromblad and bassist Peter Iwers, and Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody’s drummer Alex Landenburg. CyHra was initially the brainchild of Jake E and Jesper Stromblad when, after chatting, they realised that they shared a similar vision and decided to start a new band. Iwers and Landenburg were quickly added to the roster and ‘Letter To Myself’ is the resultant debut album.
At this stage, let’s tackle headlong the elephant in this particular room: If, like me, you have fallen out of love a little with In Flames’ recent output, you’ll probably want to know immediately whether or not the inclusion of Stromblad and Iwers means that CyHra will directly scratch that early In Flames itch. The short answer is ‘no’, it won’t. The longer answer is ‘it might a little bit here and there, if you’re prepared to embrace other influences alongside’.
Essentially, ‘Letters To Myself’ can best be described as a heavy, modern melodic metal record. And, I have to say, it’s a damn fine one at that, too.
Of course, given the musicians involved, it’s no surprise to report there is more than a hint of melodeath to be heard, particularly in the now-familiar guitar playing of Stromblad. His chosen guitar tones definitely recall those heady days of the In Flames ‘Colony’/‘Clayman’ eraon occasion but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. Overall, there’s more of a mainstream, alternative vibe to the 12 tracks that adds an interesting dimension to proceedings and keeps things fresher than they otherwise could have been.
With Jake E at the helm, the Amaranthe influence is hard to ignore too, certainly given how ridiculously catchy much of the material on ‘Letters To Myself’ is. I guarantee that there are several tracks that you’ll be singing long after the album has ended. The addition of very prominent modern-sounding keyboards and electronic samples adds further parallels to the Amaranthe-isms, but after a few spins, it becomes clear that CyHra do actually have their own identity.
In that respect, I have found that the best way to listen to ‘Letters To Myself’ is to forget the past, forget the pedigree of the musicians and instead focus on the material offered, judging it on its own merits. If you do this, the listening experience is far more enjoyable.
To begin with, the opening trio of songs are an absolute blast; immediately likeable and full of power and intensity. They hit with full force and are instantly irresistible as a result.
‘Karma’ kicks things off in real style. An electronic beat is quickly joined by Stromblad’s guitars in an exuberant opening, the most ‘In Flames’ section on the entire disc for my money. After a smouldering verse, the enormous chorus acts like a collective venting and release of steam. Jake E powers above the strong Landenburg/Iwers rhythms in style with his trademark delivery, whilst Stromblad cuts loose, eventually delivering a soulful, nuanced solo once the second chorus has departed. If you’re not grinning from ear to ear by the time this track ends, you’ll know that this record is not for you.
Up next is ‘Heartrage’, another up-beat, up-tempo track that features some intriguing drumming from Landenburg, not to mention some lush atmospheric keys. The chorus is another belter; a moody and intense affair with huge hooks that burrow deeper with every passing listen.
The final cut within this stellar opening trio is ‘Here To Save You’ and if the previous track boasted a moody, hook-laden chorus, this composition pushes things another notch further. It opens with a lovely acoustic guitar intro before the familiar electronics duet with Stromblad’s chunky riffs. But it is the sprawling, memorable chorus that takes the spotlight with Jake E given the space to soar effortlessly over a devastating and surprisingly sophisticated melody.
There are plenty of other great tracks that could be mentioned, such as the bombastic and catchy-as-hell ‘Muted Life’, the muscular mid-tempo stomp of the title track and ‘Dark Clarity’ with yet more potent melodic sensibilities and superb, striking lead guitar work. Then there’s the enormous feel-good anthem ‘Black Wings’ to contend with, another track that gets bigger and better the more you listen.
If I have a slight reservation about ‘Letters To Myself’, it’s the fact that the record feels a little like it fizzles out towards the end. Instead of bring things to a close with a real bang, the last few tracks don’t quite deliver in the same way as the opening songs do. This is not to say that the likes of ‘Inside A Lullaby’ and ‘Dead To Me’ are of significantly lesser quality, because they are not. I just wish that this album ended in a similar vein to the way in which it began, namely knock-your-socks-off fantastic.
Nevertheless, it would take someone churlish to declare ‘Letters To Myself’ as anything other than a success. You can feel that the musicians involved are having fun playing this material and that translates into the end product without doubt. It may be polished and unashamedly modern but with ‘Letters To Myself’, CyHra have produced a debut album of modern melodic metal that has planted a great big smile on my face. And isn’t that enough?
The Score of Much Metal: 8.75
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvBjQ543l84&w=560&h=315]
If you’ve enjoyed this review, you can check out my others from previous years and for 2017 right here:
Devoid – Cup of Tears
Ne Obliviscaris – Urn
Sons Of Apollo – Psychotic Symphony
Enslaved – E
Samael – Hegemony
Vuur – In This Moment We Are Free – Cities
Power Quest – Sixth Dimension
Iris Divine – The Static And The Noise
Daniel Cavanagh – Monochrome
White Moth Black Butterfly – Atone
Jag Panzer – The Deviant Chord
Vulture Industries – Stranger Times
Anubis Gate – Covered In Black
Protean Collective – Collapse
Cradle Of Filth – Cryproriana – The Seductiveness of Decay
TDW & Dreamwalkers Inc. – The Antithetic Affiliation
Caligula’s Horse – In Contact
Nocturnal Rites – Phoenix
Arch Enemy – Will To Power
Threshold – Legends Of The Shires
H.E.A.T – Into The Great Unknown
Dyscarnate – With All Their Might
Subterranean Masquerade – Vagabond
Adagio – Life
Paradise Lost – Medusa
The Haunted – Strength In Numbers
Serious Black – Magic
Leprous – Malina
The Lurking Fear – Out of the Voiceless Grave
Prospekt – The Illuminated Sky
Wintersun – The Forest Seasons
Witherfall – Nocturnes And Requiems
Tuesday The Sky – Drift
Anthriel – Transcendence
Decapitated – Anticult
Cosmograf – The Hay-Man Dreams
Orden Ogan – Gunmen
Iced Earth – Incorruptible
Anathema – The Optimist
Solstafir – Berdreyminn
Dream Evil – Six
Avatarium – Hurricanes And Halos
Ayreon – The Source
Until Rain – Inure
MindMaze – Resolve
God Dethroned – The World Ablaze
Bjorn Riis – Forever Comes To An End
Voyager – Ghost Mile
Big Big Train – Grimspound
Lonely Robot – The Big Dream
Firespawn – The Reprobate
Ancient Ascendant
Pyramaze – Contingent
Shores Of Null – Black Drapes For Tomorrow
Asira – Efference
Hologram Earth – Black Cell Program
Damnations Day – A World Awakens
Memoriam – For The Fallen
Pallbearer – Heartless
Sleepmakeswaves – Made of Breath Only
Ghost Ship Octavius – Ghost Ship Octavius
Vangough – Warpaint
Telepathy – Tempest
Obituary – Obituary
Fen – Winter
Havok – Conformicide
Wolfheart – Tyhjyys
Svart Crown – Abreaction
Nova Collective – The Further Side
Immolation – Atonement
The Mute Gods – Tardigrades Will Inherit The Earth
Ex Deo – The Immortal Wars
Pyogenesis – A Kingdom To Disappear
My Soliloquy – Engines of Gravity
Nailed To Obscurity – King Delusion
Helion Prime – Helion Prime
Battle Beast – Bringer Of Pain
Persefone – Aathma
Soen – Lykaia
Exquirla – Para Quienes Aun Viven
Odd Logic – Effigy
Mors Principium Est – Embers Of A Dying World
Firewind – Immortals
Slyde – Back Again EP
Sepultura – Machine Messiah
Deserted Fear – Dead Shores Rising
Kreator – Gods Of Violence
Borealis – World of Silence MMXVII
Pain of Salvation – In The Passing Light of Day
