What do you get when you mix elements of nu metal, metalcore, melodeath, progressive metal, and even rap? You get an extremely creative band that goes by the name of SICKSENSE. The up-and-coming metal sensation fronted by Vicky Psarakis (ex-THE AGONIST) and Robby J. Fonts (STUCK MOJO) will take the metal world by storm this Valentine’s Day as their incredible debut album, “Cross Me Twice,” is slated to be released on that very date, February 14th, 2025, via Earache Records. [Ed. note: the release date of “Cross Me Twice” has been moved to March 28th, 2025 after publishing this review.]
In the introduction, I have already given you some hints about how rich the album’s sound design is as the music seamlessly jumps between heavy soundscapes, melodic breaks, complex instrumental passages, and fast-paced vocal deliveries. This well-crafted mixture makes the album a refreshing and intriguing listening experience that could potentially pull some listeners out of their comfort zones and put them face-to-face with a wide variety of moods and styles. The first single released, “On Repeat,” offered a glimpse into this diversity, blending brutal vocals with poppy melodies and a synth-laden ambiance into a vibrant metalcore hit that is the centerpiece of this album.
The next single, “Wildfires,” flipped the script and showed the band could craft a rap-based melodic piece as Robby J. Fonts spits some wicked rhymes while his partner in crime, Vicky Psarakis (a.k.a Killer V) brings the melody by delivering a soaring chorus and hitting some spectacular heights, both of them well supported by not just a solid rhythm section but also by some fiery riffs. The third single, “Masquerade Parade,” saw the band at their heaviest yet, boasting intense instrumentals with vocals to match the sonic mayhem – including some impressive gutturals – while the airy chorus neatly counterbalances everything. Just these three singles alone display an astounding wealth of diversity between them and, indeed, the full album offers a rich tapestry of sounds.
It opens up in spectacular fashion with “Sellout,” a roaring track underpinned firstly by an anthemic and groovy chorus wonderfully carried by Robby J. Fonts’s growls and secondly by Vicky Psarakis’s melodic cleans. This track also acts as a statement of intent from SICKSENSE as some of the lyrics assert that “We bring the noise / Bring the pain / We are on a mission to entertain” (and boy, do they deliver on their promises). The highly emotive and atmospheric “Throwback” feels like a diary page put to music with beautifully sung rap sections from both vocalists and a heavier chorus section. It bleeds into “Fever Dream,” a short and hazy interlude of disparate vocals, ambient sounds, and recurring musical motifs that tie the first part of the album to the second part. Actually, one of the best things about this album’s lush sound design are these recurring musical motifs that make the songs flow like chapters in a novel, always circling back to some things you heard earlier (for instance, the chorus of “Throwback” is echoed in the album’s second interlude, “Here Come All the Memories”).
Another great thing about the way this album was put together are the transitions as the songs seem to seamlessly flow from one to the other with almost no clear stops and starts. It goes without saying that the tracks themselves are individual and have their own dynamics, but it’s the way the music progresses without a hitch that makes for a very smooth listening experience. “Invisible,” for instance, continues nicely from “Fever Dream,” starting off gently before ramping up in intensity as some harsh vocals manage to sneak into this otherwise mellow track. Robby J. Fonts’s vocals – when he’s not screaming – add quite a sense of calm thanks to his warm vocal timber, and this track, as well as “Throwback,” capitalize on it.
Towards the tail end of the album, “In This Carousel” again plays around with dynamic shifts slowly building its momentum from delicate vocals from both vocalists through screams and melodic cleans until it reaches a fever pitch of highs and harsh vocals on top of a frantic main riff and powerful drumming. There’s also a great solo in this track from guitarist Phillip Lykostratis who really gets to show off on this one. The album closes with “Follow Me,” a track that brings together all of the album’s best moments, from beautiful cleans and vicious screams to some ambient synth beats and towering guitar leads all the way to some rap sections and a very melodic chorus.
Truly a multifaceted and adventurous album, “Cross Me Twice” is a riveting sonic journey through ten incredibly diverse tracks that showcase SICKSENSE’s bountiful versatility and creative prowess. At the center of it all are, of course, Vicky Psarakis and Robby J. Fonts who bring so much emotion and texture to the album as their voices complement and contrast wonderfully as the two trade off lines, harmonies, and countermelodies that broaden the album’s already lavish soundscape. This, in turn, gives the album a great replay value as new sounds, nuances, and moods await discovery even after multiple listening sessions, which is a rare quality on the metal scene these days. The bottom line is that under the guiding hands of this talented bunch of musicians, “Cross Me Twice” is a genre-bending album of the highest caliber.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
- Sellout
- Wildfires
- Throwback
- Fever Dream
- Invisible
- On Repeat
- Masquerade Parade
- In This Carousel
- Here Come All the Memories
- Follow Me
Lineup
- Vicky Psarakis – vocals, keys
- Robby J. Fonts – vocals
- Phillip Lykostratis – guitars
- Richard Regier – bass
- Joseph Polizzi – drums
Label
Earache Records
