Reviews

...I really like this album. The combination of symphonic rock, and the dynamic vocals in the line of Linkin Park make it a very refreshing listen. Notwithstanding my reference to Linkin Park, do not expect an album of nu-metal, and to be sure Sylvan spends more time on atmospherics and tension building, but they should beware that they do not repeat themselves too much, especially regarding song structure. If the latest Moongarden, Marillion, Porcupine Tree or Pineapple Thief did something for you, then Sylvan is likely to do so as well. We have a word in Dutch for this type of music: meeslepend, with which I mean to say, for lack of a better word, that the music easily carries you away, easily enthuses.
www.cs.uu.nl/people/jur/reviews/xrayed.html

The latest Sylvan album, X-Rayed, was released just this year (2004). Since I discovered Sylvan at approximately the same time, my first experiences with Sylvan included this album as well as Artificial Paradise. Luckily, that's very appropriate since as far as mood and sound, these two albums are the most similar of the Sylvan catalog...Overall, this is another strong performance by Sylvan. It's hard to pick which Sylvan album is better, but at the worst, this isn't far behind Artificial Paradise. Highly enjoyable and recommended...
www.progressiveears.com/asp/reviews.asp?albumID=2920

...The album's epic Given-Used-Forgotten combines the bands past with the current style. It features classical piano and those typical Sylvan arrangements when at one moment you are cosily inside a pretend comfort zone just before you are attacked by a killer guitar riff or magnificent guitar solo. Not as good as their previous epic (Artificial Paradise) but still a marvellous piece of work. At the end of the album This World is Not For Me helps you to get your feet back on the ground. This time the climax guitar solo is in the middle of the song while the last minutes are used for a peaceful bit of piano, leaving you completely fulfilled (if not drained) when the album ends...
www.dprp.net/reviews/200428.html#sylvan

Interview with the band over at the Prog Palace
www.theprogpalace.com/interviews/sylvaninterview.htm

...Lacking redundancy, X-Rayed tends to bounce around from one level of heaviness to another, like ways for the factor of a more eased back pace, putting more standardized songwriting within epical compositions and keeping their distance form the overzealous soloing. The fact that the record moves all over the place, makes Sylvan stand out.
www.prog4you.com/cd-reviews-07-04/Sylvan.htm

...Sylvan shows us how well they combine well written songs with emotion filled lyrics and vocals. They have dark themes on X-Rayed, and at times bear more resemblance to a hardcore metal band lyric wise. I love every song on X-Rayed. To me, it’s a perfect album. I’m finding myself listening to this over and over again, which to me is a sign of a future classic album So for fan’s of the modern progressive rock style, get your wallets out and purchase this highly recommended gem! You will not regret this purchase!
www.geocities.com/prognaut/reviews/sylvan2.html