Sumo Cyco announce new album ‘Initiation’

SUMO CYCO have announced a new album!

Titled Initiation, the upcoming album from the Canadian punk band is the follow-up to 2017’s Opus Mar and is scheduled to be released in May this year, via Napalm Records.

The upcoming album was produced by the Juno Award-winning Kane Churko [OZZY OSBOURNE, IN THIS MOMENT, PAPA ROACH] and speaking about the upcoming album, frontwoman Skye ‘Sever’ Sweetnam says, “the album’s title, Initiation, stems from wanting to invite the audience to be ‘initiated’ into our world. There are usually two congruent themes to each of our albums – one is real-world inspiration, and the other is Cyco City, a comic book-esque alternate universe where all our music videos take place. With Initiation, we introduce four gangs or clubs. Our music videos for Initiation all include a theme of these clubs – whether it’s gang vs. gang, a forbidden love between opposing sides, or the idea of having to choose where you belong.

Outside of the story, the lyrics relate to the polarization of the world we live in now. We all have a longing to belong, but what makes one feel accepted or ostracized from a group? To be INITIATED, would you be willing to try to understand another point of view? I have always written lyrics about internal struggle, the war within oneself. Throughout the album, we bounce back and forth between struggle and overcoming. It reflects the times, and there are moments that seem a bit dark.”

Alongside the announcement of the new album, the band have released a new music video for the first song lifted from the upcoming album; Bystander. Speaking about the new song and its accompanying video, Sweetnam continues, “Bystander was inspired by the frustration of our lives turning upside down in this pandemic. I felt like instead of living my life, I was now a slave to a screen, watching the world fall apart right before my eyes, totally helpless. The music video depicts my character trapped in a floating house watching news events taking place on TV, and at the same time, right outside my window. This entire video was produced, filmed and edited by Matt and I in our home studio!”

Watch the official music video for Bystander here: 

Also, you can view both the track list and artwork for the upcoming new album below:

Track List: 

1. Love You Wrong
2. Bystander
3. Vertigo
4. Bad News
5. No Surrender
6. M.I.A.
7. Cyclone
8. Run with the Giants
9. Overdrive
10. Power & Control
11. This Dance Is Doomed
12. Awakened (not available on standard digital version)

Initiation is set for release on May 7th via Napalm Records Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.

For more information on SUMO CYCO like their official page on Facebook.