The drive to explore is something that music can be a magnificent avenue, but it’s oftentimes necessary to take yourself down paths you find intimidating or more than a little uncomfortable. Yet such challenges can lead to bearing tremendous fruit the likes of which few could ever hold a candle. Music has long embodied those concepts with the underground still absolutely littered with acts seeking such splendor as long as they have the creative drive and the vision to bring it all about. For some, such exploration comes more naturally with the end results simply gorgeous to behold. Not even a full year since their last outing, it’s once again that Sykofant shows us how it’s done in superb fashion.

There’s something about really going for it and going all-in that has always held a certain allure to the human mind, but, as you might imagine, it’s a concept that is constantly and consistently far easier said than done. Even when in the hands of the incredibly capable, focused, and talented, it’s a feat that is a real testament to the success that’s thrown down. Those that are able to break through achieve great things and break new ground the likes of which can be endlessly fascinating to watch unfurl as the horizon widens. Already, it was with their “Red Sun” EP in the spring of 2025 that saw Sykofant pull it all off gloriously, but it’s with the arrival of “Leaves” that they’ve managed to capture lightning in a bottle once more. Across three tracks and a 22-minute runtime, this EP is no less than enchanting. An experience that’s meant to be listened in a single break-free listen, “Leaves” is much more than riffs and a concept. Rather, Sykofant embraced its creative freedom and offers a continuation of what’s effortlessly one of the most engaging works of progressive rock that I’ve heard in far too long. Where “Red Sun” left off is where “Leaves” begins with the themes, visuals, storytelling, and euphoria of the work all that one could ask for when it comes to quality and consistency of the highest order. Sykofant went all-in by all accounts with fitting results.

This is not a band that’s been around for all that long from what I can tell, but it’s in every way that Sykofant has offered us a glimpse of what it means to deliver the goods in such a way that’s uncompromising to one’s vision and a brilliant demonstration of progressive ingenuity. There’s no shortage of quality to be had in this particular corner of the underground, but we’re always in need of new talent that can offer something we can really sink our teeth into. With all that’s offered throughout “Leaves”, Sykofant has more than earned the right to be hailed as just such a band.

LISTEN to “Leaves” on Bandcamp here.

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