Review: “Funerals” by Sicksense

Born of an idea conceived back stage at Heavy Montreal in 2015, Nu-Metal merchants Sicksense announced themselves to the world in 2021 with single “Make Believe”. In the five years that have followed, the band, who feature in their ranks former The Agonist vocalist Vicky Psarakis and Robby J. Fonts of Stuck Mojo fame have been nothing short of prolific. Blending Nu-Metal and Nu-Metalcore dynamics with hints of Melodic Progressive Metal and DJent their reign of terror has seen them release EP’s “Kings Today” and “Fools Tomorrow” before signing with Earache Records for their debut album “Cross Me Twice“. Now freshly independent once more, the group who are rounded out by guitarist Jackson Snowden, bassist  Richard Regier and drummer Sam Neumann have returned with “Funerals“. That would be another four track EP produced, engineered and mixed by Joey Doherty with Vicky Psarakis and mastered by Tyler Smyth (I Prevail, The Devil Wears Prada, The Ghost Inside).

A heavy hitting opening cut “Artificial Irrelevance” blends the styles seamlessly taking death defy leaps between Metal sub-genres with the verve and swagger of a black belt in parkour and living to tell the tale. From a ferocious opening of darkwave programming and pile driving Nu-Metalcore riffs arise the screams of both vocalists as they unleash uncleans that make you want to do a double take. After that potent first verse the guitars drop out as Fonts drops a rap verse before Psarakis delivers a soaring majestic clean verse. It’s like Hacktivist and Lacuna Coil had a baby and against all the odds it works incredibly well. It doesn’t stop there either because that bursts into rap screams, some of which you might hear from the likes of Chris Fronzak from Attila arise from the black depths before another sung chorus. The poise, power and presence of mind to create something that puts so much in one melting pot and still has such great flow blows the mind and that’s before we’ve even mentioned how thought provoking the lyrical narrative actually is.

There is a Limp Bizkit like bounce to “Newsflash” which is great fun, the power of Psarakis harsh vocals creating a stark contrast to Fonts raps. Heavy, energetic and old school Nu-Metal that benefits from modern production values and that extra crunch in the guitars, it slaps with angst and sarcasm then beats you down with the DJent breakdown. It won’t be long before you’re singing along to the chorus of “Newsflash of the week everyone’s a freak!” because its just so damn catchy.

“Seller’s Remorse” is a bit closer to newer Nu-Metal acts like Dropout Kings with potent grooves and an emotive melodic chorus, as Fonts and Psarakis speak of hypocrisies and karma in a tone that mirrors the previous cut but with more of a serious tone. Another high octane adrenaline rush of a track, it has everything we’ve come to expect from Sicksense and a bit more. By way of contrast “A Moment Of Violence” feels like it belongs to the soundtrack of a James Bond movie as Psarakis sings elegantly over a haunting piano melody and mournful orchestration. The final third then sees the guitars come crashing down, pushing on the emotive nature of the beast before the savage unclean vocal finale which is enough to trigger a brain haemorrhage. As a record “Funerals” should put Sicksense on a path to World domination [9/10]

Track Listing

1. Artificial Irrelevance
2. Newsflash
3. Seller’s Remorse
4. A Moment Of Violence

“Funerals” by Sicksense is out 25th September 2026