Album Review: Byzantine – Harbingers (Metal Blade Records)

Charleston, West Virginia metal veterans Byzantine will release their long-awaited new full-length, ‘Harbingers’, on June 13th via Metal Blade Records.

A daring showcase of progressive rock and metal crossed with groove; Harbingers is the sound of a band inspired. Not just with a set of different vocalists who work together so well, but with an instrumental section that does an incredible job of keeping the listener engaged throughout. This is progressive rock and metal, but it’s not the defining feature of the record (or the band) and that is so much fun to explore.

Following a vibrant and melodic sounding introduction via Consequentia, the album really explodes into life with the dramatic grandeur and punchy groove heaviness of A Place We Cannot Go. This is Byzantine and it is spectacular. Partially because it’s instrumentally creative, but also partially because the vocals are so uniquely delivered.

Get used to that though, if you’re not already, as that is what this band does and does so well. Yet, this album feels more refined than ever. Byzantine have lost a lot of the egregious elements of their sound, the pointless wandering and drawn-out sections, focusing instead on a tighter and more focused delivery that speaks volumes about their song writing confidence. It results in absolute bangers like Floating Chrysanthema, Byzantine flexing their progressive muscles in startling fashion, and The Clockmaker’s Intention, a grin-inducing example of how infectious this band’s sound can be. I’ve praised the vocals loads already, but on the latter it’s all about the guitars, and we even get a solo!

For me, that was the highlight, but that doesn’t mean I (or you) are left wanting by the second half of the album. Far from it. Not when we get something heavier in the form of Riddance and something faster in the form of Harbinger. Don’t ever accuse this band of not having variety to their sound, and both these tracks, while simpler, go hard.

Another personal favourite (although that could apply to just about every track on the album) is The Unobtainable Sleep and all because of the slower, groovier sound. It’s the kind of imaginative track that makes you grimace, but in a good way.

Finally, and sadly as all good things must inevitably come to an end, it’s Kobayashi Maru and Irene. Two wholly unique efforts, with the former showing off more of Byzantine’s theatrical side, while being delightfully chunky. Whereas the latter is progressive gold, and the perfect way to cap off Byzantine’s best album to date. Yep, I said it.

Byzantine – Harbingers Track Listing:

1. Consequentia
2. A Place We Cannot Go
3. Floating Chrysanthema
4. The Clockmaker’s Intention
5. Riddance
6. Harbinger
7. The Unobtainable Sleep
8. Kobayashi Maru
9. Irene

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