Byzantine – Harbingers

Metalcatto

Byzantine has been going at it for a long time now. Saying that the band has carved its own Prog/Groove/Radio Rock style is one way I can think to compliment its work. So here we have Harbingers. a title that seems to represent the struggles of the parent of an average one-year-old, but I’m sure the album has nothing to do with parenthood sadly (that’d be a bold move in Metal!), and more about something deep and philosophical. Anyway, let’s see what the veterans have for us.

Harbingers has everything you’ve come to love about Byzantine. It’s loud, complex, and varied, but somehow it sticks to a rather accessible tone. A lot of that is due to its crisp and clean production, which rivals that of any retro Nu-Metal revival act today. However, it’s also the emphatic use of short and beefy riffs that almost remind me of old Lamb of God. This is the foundation upon which Byzantine builds its more elaborate ideas—because despite its commercial appeal, the band doesn’t shy away from long and proggy passages.

I have kind of a soft spot for these vocals that sound so tough-guy sometimes, perhaps because it feels like an angrier Russell Allen. I mean, there were tracks like “Harbinger” (probably the album’s highlight), where I thought they had just kidnapped the guy and made him perform mad here. It wouldn’t be the first time we force a Metal legend to work against their will cough Ozzy cough. The guitar solos in Harbingers also strike a healthy balance between shred and actually adding layers to the tracks. So yes, I was mostly pleasantly surprised—but that doesn’t mean the album will leave unscathed.

I’m going to sound like a total snob (because I am!), but the album is crafted more as a series of engaging and hard-hitting tracks than as a cohesive album where all the parts complement each other. In a way, I guess that’s an old-school decision, but one that simplifies the band’s potential. And I’m sure these guys could come up with something even proggier—but that’s me giving terrible advice to sell records. I never said I was good at giving commercial advice. Maybe just artistic advice? You people decide!

Byzantine has crafted something interesting and fun—no doubt about that. It might annoy me that the band doesn’t go full Symphony X at times, but I get that’s a huge gamble with little payoff. The important part is that Harbingers will keep you awake. It’d be an absolute tragedy if the album made sleep rather obtainable, don’t you think? Hehe! This might be my most convoluted pun to date!

Label: Metal Blade Records

Release date: June 13, 2025

Website: https://byzantinewv.com/

Country: USA

Score: 3.5/5.0