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Sumo Cyco – “Neon Void” (Album Review)

Oct 24, 2025

Sumo Cyco – “Neon Void” (Album Review)

General Information

Personnel:
Skye Sweetnam – lead vocals
Matt Drake – guitars, backing vocals
Oscar Anesetti – bass, backing vocals

Producer: Salvatore Sam Guiana, Drake

Label: Cyco City Records (independent label)

Release Date: October 24, 2025

Setting the Scene

I’ve followed Sumo Cyco since their very first single, always excited when they dropped a new track with one of their out-of-the-box music videos. I was thrilled when their first album arrived, and I’m just as excited now to see where they go with this fourth release. Toronto’s Sumo Cyco thrives on experimentation, blending genres without rules. Neon Void pushes their evolution even further, carving out new territory for the band.

First Impression

On first listen, Neon Void grabbed my attention with its energy and constant surprises. The album flows in unexpected ways, with tempo changes and shifts that kept me on my toes. At every turn, Sumo Cyco had something up their sleeve, making sure the songs never felt monotone and keeping me excited throughout.

Similar Sounds

If you’re into any of these artists, this album should be on your radar.

Die MannequinNew Years DayBlack Flag

Visual Vibes

The album cover features Skye Sweetnam at the center, her intense yellow-eyed gaze and dynamic pose drawing you in. Claw-like appendages and shadowy figures swirl around her against a vibrant, chaotic background, evoking a sense of struggle and confrontation. The surreal, dramatic imagery reflects the themes of temptation, escape, and navigating a maze-like world that run throughout Neon Void.

Track on Repeat

“Abandon All Ships” stands out with its driving riffs, soaring melody, and vivid lyrical imagery, encapsulating the intensity and creativity that define Neon Void.

Stand Out Lyric

Pain in my chest and my heart starts dropping
Down, like an anchor that can’t reach bottom
No, oh woah — we don’t slow
Headed for the rocks
For the rocks, for the rocks
Headed for the rocks, for the rocks, for the rocks

– “Abadnon All Ships”

 

These lyrics from “Abandon All Ships” convey unstoppable momentum and emotional weight, using vivid imagery to capture struggle and intensity.

In-depth Notes

Musical Shape 🎸

Neon Void moves with a constant sense of momentum, shifting effortlessly between fast, aggressive riffs and more measured passages. Guitars drive the energy with sharp, memorable riffs on tracks like “Boring” and “Abandon All Ships,” while solos and breakdowns, especially on “Until Today,” add dynamic contrast. Bass lines underpin the melodies with consistency, supporting tempo changes that keep each song from feeling predictable, and the drums punctuate the arrangements with precise timing, accentuating both the heavier and calmer moments. Across the album, the instrumental interplay gives the tracks distinct shapes, balancing intensity, melody, and structural variation throughout.

Vocal Performance 🎤

Skye Sweetnam leads Neon Void with a versatile presence, shifting between harsh and clean tones that complement the changing tempos and dynamics. Her voice cuts through aggressive riffs and anchors calmer passages, making the interplay with the instruments feel deliberate and engaging.

Production Quality 🎧

 The production on Neon Void highlights the intricacies of each arrangement, letting riffs, solos, and tempo shifts stand out clearly. Pauses and layered instrumentation create contrast, emphasizing both the heavier and more measured sections.

Themes and Concepts 💭

Neon Void explores themes of struggle, temptation, and finding balance in a chaotic world. Songs like “Abandon All Ships” reflect this with a sense of unstoppable momentum and emotional weight, mirrored by shifting tempos and dynamic arrangements. The music supports these ideas by moving between high-energy passages and calmer moments, giving the album a sense of navigating challenges and confrontation.

Final Verdict

 Neon Void is a dynamic, inventive album that blends experimentation, energetic arrangements, and thoughtful themes, showcasing Sumo Cyco at the height of their creative evolution.

Mood Meter

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Intensity

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Melancholy

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Darkness

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Joyfulness

%

Serenity

%

Energy

Perfect For…

 

Work OutPartyingGaming
Emotional struggleWorkingDriving

 

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About the Author

Being a feminist has been normalized as an irregularity through our patriarchal society, so I'd rather be called a "decent human" than a "feminist man". I breathe Metal and Rock and have a screwed-up sense of humour.

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