Release Date June 5th, 2026
Format LP/CD/Digital
Genre Melodic Metal
Origin Sweden
Cyhra formed in 2016 around the partnership of vocalist Jake E, formerly the frontman of Amaranthe, and guitarist Jesper Strömblad, one of the architects of the melodic death metal sound that put In Flames on the map and come back with The Halo Effect. They recruited drummer Alex Landenburg, known for his work with Kamelot and Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, and guitarist Euge Valovirta of Suburban Tribe. Bassist Peter Iwers, another In Flames and The Halo Effect alumnus, completed the original lineup. After Iwers stepped away, guitarist Marcus Sunesson, known from The Crown and work with Ronnie Atkins, joined in 2020. Their debut "Letters To Myself" launched them onto major touring circuits alongside Sabaton and Kreator, while the follow-up "No Halos In Hell" hit commercial strides with "Out Of My Life" racking up around 11 million Spotify streams. Their third record, "The Vertigo Trigger," arrived in 2023. Now, approaching a decade as a band, they return with "Requiem For A Pipe Dream."
"Requiem For A Pipe Dream" is a good Cyhra album, no need to dress it up as something larger than it is. The songs are compact, catchy and built around big choruses, with Jake E placed right in the front of the mix. "Bleed With Pride", "Superman", "Miss Me When I'm Gone" and "Ghostbound" show the band’s main weapon, easy hooks over modern metal riffs, with a glossy production that makes everything very accessible. This is not a raw album, and anyone expecting a rougher Swedish metal attack may be left wanting more dirt in the guitars.
The presence of Jesper Strömblad and Marcus Sunesson gives the album credibility before the first song even starts (and that was the reason I listened to the album), and some of the guitar work has that melodic Swedish. Euge Valovirta and Alex Landenburg give the material a firm frame, while the bass and keys fill the songs without making them bloated. The problem is that Cyhra often choose the safest path. Some choruses hit the mark, some others sound built from the same template, and a few tracks pass by too neatly.
The production is clean, bright and very modern, which helps the vocals and melodies, although it also takes some edge away from the heavier moments. "Skin From Bones", "Mark Of My Sins" and "Box With Spirits" bring more punch, with enough riff work to stop the album from becoming pure melodic rock. The softer and more emotional side is present too, especially in "In The Center Of A Miracle", and it gives the album variety without turning it into a sugar bath.
"Requiem For A Pipe Dream" does its job. It has good songs, strong names, big choruses and a professional sound. It also has moments where Cyhra plays too safely, and that keeps it away from a higher score. Solid, enjoyable, professionally executed, and just a couple of genuinely daring moments shy of being something worth a louder conversation..
|7.5
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