Reviews

French review
www.magicfiremusic.net/chronique.php?cat=chronic&id=1153

...Even more intense, even more raw than "In Chains" is the third "chapter" entitled "Forgotten Virtue," with it's frenzied screams of "And I can not, I can not stand it all…" Later we get the soaring "Answer To Life" which leads into the heartbreakingly sad "Message From The Past," where the father laments not being able to save his child from, what we can presume, is suicide. For the girl, things come to a head in "The Last Embrace." This culmination of all that she felt, expressed in the chorus, becomes raw emotion – a need for release, rage…all at once and done in what I thought of as a Pain of Salvation kind of way. And in her release, she finds her Eden, in "A Kind Of Eden."..
www.progressiveworld.net/html/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=3922

Dutch review
www.progwereld.org/cd-recensies/sylvan5.htm

Sylvan has been one of my favourite bands of the past years and are a good example of how some of the best current day prog rock seems to come from Germany. After several fine albums and one masterpiece (Artificial Paradise) the guys from Hamburg are back with another mind blowing roller coaster of emotions called Posthumous Silence...
www.dprp.net/reviews/200625.php

...Posthumous Silence is a moving album ("Message from the Past," with its touching cello and keyboard interplay is especially noteworthy for that), flowing naturally and dynamically throughout its 70 minutes. Highly recommended! (8.25/10)
www.maelstrom.nu/ezine/review_iss45_3249.php

...But if album concepts bore you, don’t worry – either way, SYLVAN simply presents a wonderfully moving collection of stirring melodies and themes, contained within a story which doesn’t dominate the experience; only enhances it for anyone interested enough to delve into the lyrics. This makes for some great extremes, although on the whole, the album is weighed more towards the lighter than the dark, or rather, lighter than heavier. The style is reminiscent of PAIN OF SALVATION and of PORCUPINE TREE, but more in terms of the vocal technique and range, which, I have to say interests me much more than Steven Wilson’s I’m afraid and even I’m shocked to hear myself say that. Marco has the ability to conjure up such passion with so little volume in one song, such as the middle in “Message From The Past”, whilst accompanied by some very poignant keys I must add and then explode with vigour in other songs like “Forgotten Virtue”. This is what reminds me of Daniel Gildenlow and a happy reminder it is indeed...
www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=10520

...OK, in conclusion, like I hinted before, I consider Artificial Paradise as one of the best albums to have been put out in the new millenium (all genres considered). With Posthumous Silence I am convinced of one thing... it is even better than it's predecessor. For myself, I only have one question to be answered... where in my "all time best album" list will it eventually end up? Need I say more?
www.silverdb.com/MUSIC_DBCDInfo.asp?txtCDID=19116

Spanish review
manticornio.com/rock-progresivo/S/SYLVAN/posthumous-silence.html

Interview with the band
www.ytsejam.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3750

This is a concept record and here's the storyline in one sentence: A man gets to really know his daughter for the first time by reading her diaries ... after she has committed suicide. So it's obvious that this is an extremely moving piece - but besides that, Posthumous Silence is simply an excellent album in every sense. Very progressive by all understandings of that term, in the symphonic style of that genre, but with one foot in the neo camp and just a toe dipped tentatively into prog-metal. The musicianship is outstanding, the songwriting is strong and the overall impression after hearing this music is that after a after their 7-year apprenticeship, Sylvan has outshone its back catalog of 4 better-than-average records and announced its presence in the progressive music world with a bang.
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=3803

... Combining elements of classic symphonic prog rock with a harder prog metal edtge “Posthumous Silence” manages to be both unique and original...
www.dvdivas.net/ProgVoices/S/sylvan-posthumoussilenceWayne.html

What an odd creature this is, a progressive metal band, part Emo, part Nu-Metal, part Marillion-ish Neo-Prog, part symphonic prog that's ever so slightly reminiscent of the Italian school. Sylvan's fifth release, Posthumous Silence covers a broad array of styles and sounds. This is a good thing. I'm speaking as an old crotchety proghole of the worst kind, and all I can say that's bad about this music is that they occasionally throw in AOR-ish anthemic choruses in 4/4 just to hook the head banging crowd...
www.dvdivas.net/ProgVoices/S/sylvan-posthumoussilence.html

...The case of Sylvan is the case of a miracle. One of those that once you find them you turn your head to heaven and thank God for the gift of music. This German band is the right answer to all those claiming that progressive rock (and metal) is nothing else but exhibitionism and musical nonsense verbalism. Sylvan is the epitome of sentimental progressive rock and, while there are previous examples coming from this mid-European country, such as Sieges Even and Soul Cages, believe me when I say that they are the ideal ambassadors of this genre...
www.metalperspective.com/reviews/sylvan.php

...Generally, the fifteen songs blend together so well one cannot pick where one song ends and others begin. This may hint that the music is similar throughout - and this is true to some degree, but what is also true is the impassioned melodies that transport the listener to near ecstasy. If there is some thing as "Emo-Prog" then this is it. Most thanks to vocalist Marco Glümann, who's melodic pipes keeps everything above the music...
www.progressiveworld.net/sylvan3.html

...This music gave me goosebumps on my arms, shivers ran through my spine and tears were filling my eyes. I always knew that the band had it in them and someday would make that perfect concept album. Well here it is! "Posthumous Silence" is by far the best album of the band. The perfect cocnept album that can easily compete with an album like "Brave" of Marillion. The album grows every time you listen to it. Well, what more can I say. One of the best albums I've heard this year!
www.progvisions.nl/reviews_uk/syl_ps_uk.htm

...And the voice of vocalist Marco Glühmann can be said to be an instrument as well as a provider of lyrics on this release, as he has a good voice with a good range, and clearly know how to best utilize his voice to communicate and enhance emotions and moods. The track listing on the album lists up a massive amount of 15 songs. For the prog nerd, it may be a comfort knowing that musically, it could just as well have been listed as two tracks. All of the tracks here are parts of a whole, where sections has been singled out as single tracks. As for the songs offered, I won't go into detail. It is a concept album, as you may have guessed from the previous paragraph, and a high quality release without obvious weaknesses. The songs are well made in writing as well as performance, and explore the darker side of life; melancholy, sadness and desperation are moods and emotions extensively projected throughout the record. Personal favorites among all the great tracks on this album: "In Chains", "Message From The Past" and "Posthumous Silence".
www.prog4you.com/cd-reviews-02-07/Sylvan.htm

...Balancing out hook laden material with the symphonic edginess, Posthumous Silence marks a new high point in Sylvan’s musical career, for which the album itself is anything but “silent.”
www.ytsejam.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=941

Italian review
www.hardsounds.it/PUBLIC/recensione.php?id=2315