Sylosis / Revocation / Distant / Life Cycles – live gallery and review from The Academy on 22.02.2026

Life Cycles, while I arrived just as their set was wrapping up, the sweat on the walls and the buzz in the room spoke volumes. By all accounts from the early-comers, the Texas hardcore crew delivered a raw, high-octane performance that grabbed Dublin by the throat. They set a viciously energetic tone for the evening, proving exactly why they were the perfect adrenaline injection to kick off such a heavy bill.

Distant , next up, the Dutch downtempo/deathcore heavyweights completely shattered the floor. Distant brought an atmosphere that was suffocatingly brutal, armed with earth-shaking breakdowns and abyssal vocals. They demanded everything from the crowd, sparking relentless two-steps and walls of death, and delivered a set that was as punishing as it was undeniably gripping.

Revocation, the vibe shifted into sheer technical mastery when Revocation took the stage. It’s one thing to play fast, but it’s another entirely to deliver such cerebral, progressive death/thrash with flawless precision. The fretboard gymnastics were mesmerizing, yet the band never sacrificed their groove. They whipped The Academy into a frenzy with razor-sharp riffs, blistering solos, and a surgically tight performance that left the room in awe.

Finally Sylosis stepped up to close out the night (and their UK/EU tour) proving exactly why they are modern metal titans. Josh Middleton and the band operated as an unstoppable, razor-wire unit. The set was a masterclass in aggressive riffing, crushing grooves, and colossal hooks, seamlessly weaving newer anthems with fan-favorite deep cuts. It was a triumphant, exhaustingly brilliant end to the weekend, leaving absolutely no doubt that Sylosis is currently playing at the absolute peak of their powers.

Distant photos:

Revocation photos:

Sylosis photos & set-list:

Set list:
Erased
I Sever
Worship Decay
Lacerations
Heavy is the Crown
Poison for the Lost
All Glory, No Valour
Where the Sky Ends
Eclipsed
Servitude
Teras
Pariahs
Deadwood
The New Flesh

Photos & words – Zoltán Szabó @mrzoltanphoto