Byzantine

Because the third millennium got under way, rock fans finally began growing using their grunge fallout shelters and, having endured yet another amount of oppression under the mainly horrific reign of nu metallic, found some exciting new hard music alternatives before them, finally. Many had been these new stylistic subsets increasing to prominence (including metallic hardcore, neo-thrash, post-metal, and reinvigorated dark and death metallic moments), but there have been also several bands as well eclectic to categorize, and being among the most inventive was Western Virginia’s aptly called Byzantine. Hailing from the tiny city of Chapmanville — populace of just one 1,211 on the entire year from the census as well as the band’s founding: 2000 — Byzantine began like a trio made up of vocalist/guitarist Chris Ojeda, bassist Chris Adams (both previously associated with Morgantown-based thrashers New Family members), and guitarist Tony Rohrbough, who have been backed by way of a drum machine on the first few displays before securing the assistance of 1 Jeremy Freeman, who was simply changed promptly by long term drummer Matt Wolfe. Many formative demos had been documented between 2000 and 2002, as well as the group authorized an contract with a little local production organization known as DK Entertainment, which proceeded to go so far as funding the documenting of Byzantine’s would-be 1st album, however when they proceeded to take a seat on the unreleased experts for too much time, the bandmembers made a decision to consider matters to their personal hands. In 2003, they self-released the six-song Broadmoor EP (called after the studio room that spawned it) and had been almost instantly scouted by L.A.-centered Prosthetic Records, which directed them back to the studio to re-record the EP’s songs, tack about four even more, and thereby deliver Byzantine’s standard full-length debut, THE ESSENTIAL Component, released in February 2004. Using its prejudice-free mixture of clean and tough vocals, prog steel technicality, and hardcore hostility, the record didn’t match any practical metallic subgenre, and for that reason made Byzantine appropriate touring mates for rings as diverse as Caliban, EVERYTHING THAT Remains to be, and Lamb of God (who got helped them connect to Prosthetic to begin with), while getting the music group a prominent placement in that which was after that getting dubbed “the brand new Influx of American ROCK.” Having currently established an interesting penchant for talking about traditional and environmental problems associated with their Appalachian environment, Byzantine made a decision to obtain all biblical using the title of the sophomore album, …PLUS THEY Shall USE UP Serpents (inspired by way of a regional preacher who loved to do that!), which surfaced in-may of 2005 and was documented like a trio following a departure of bassist Adams on the preceding winter season. His alternative, Michael Cromer, strike the road using the group soon after the album’s launch, you start with a headlining U.K. tour (obvious proof Byzantine’s growing reputation), after that stateside schedules with Eyehategod and Buried Inside, accompanied by the U.S.-roving International Severe Music Festival (also featuring God Dethroned, Nightrage, Epoch of Unlight, and many others), before winding very own the entire year with just one more trek dubbed Beneath the Underground. All this grueling roadwork as well as the publicity it afforded for the music group came in a bitter cost, though, as guitarist Rohrbough made a decision he’d had more than enough, and needed to be changed by Eric Seevers going back of these travels, in addition to an appearance at the brand new England Steel Fest in Apr 2006 and following schedules with Still Remains to be, Agnostic Front side, and, afterwards, Kittie. After that, Byzantine finally got a well-deserved break at year’s end, but by Feb of 2007, Ojeda, Wolfe, Cromer, along with a reinstated Rohrbough had been already ensconced within the studio room once more, initiating the four-month periods for what will be their third & most daring album however. In Apr, Prosthetic released the group’s initial DVD, Salvation, and started posting a reliable stream of details, cover artwork, and songs through the forthcoming LP, that was today officially entitled Oblivion Beckons, and whose discharge was abruptly postponed from that fall to early 2008. This certainly came to move, but only week following the album’s late-January launch, Byzantine released a declaration announcing they might no longer work as a music group and had been therefore heading their separate methods. More details weren’t forthcoming in support of added to lover disappointment over this unpredicted turn of occasions, however when Ojeda started focusing on an album of traditional thrash covers later on that year, the truth of Byzantine’s demise finally started sinking in, departing only their important three-album legacy to provide as some way of measuring consolation.