Byzantine

Kill the King – Kill the King Review

Kill the King – Kill the King Review

By Saunders on November 8, 2023 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 10 comments

“Emerging as an underdog in the budding Indian metal scene, upstart thrashers Kill the King come armed and ready to unleash a self-titled, self-released debut thrash platter. Formed in 2016, Kill the King have done the hard yards toiling in the underground, sharpening their tools in readiness for the five-piece outfit to put their skills to practice and rumble with the big dogs of the modern thrash scene. It certainly isn’t easy to stand out in the crowded field of modern thrash, a scene that splinters off into various offshoots such as retro thrash, blackened thrash, death-thrash and modern thrash territory.” Rabid Regicide.

Byzantine – The Cicada Tree Review

Byzantine – The Cicada Tree Review

By Saunders on July 27, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Groove Metal, Metal Blade, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 34 comments

“The Cicada Tree finds the DIY experts on a major label, joining the Metal Blade juggernaut, and embracing their progressive tendencies more than ever before. Hints of their prominent influences, including nods to Pantera, Testament and Meshuggah, are still present, but as usual Byzantine discover innovative ways to transcend their influences into a crackling melting pot of creativity and powerhouse hooks.” Bitten by the prog bug.

Fall of Carthage – The Longed-For Reckoning Review

Fall of Carthage – The Longed-For Reckoning Review

By Treble Yell on January 22, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Groove Metal, MDD Records, Rap Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Nu Metal, Rap Metal, 17 comments

“The monkey’s paw is gripped tightly in your hands, a mangy curio purchased on your recent travel abroad. The wizened fakir that sold it to you promised it could fulfill any wish, an absurd statement but here in the stillness of your room curiosity has sunk its claws deep into you and a whispered plea escapes your lips: ;I wish for an album that can recapture the sound of early Machine Head.'” If wishes were Machine Heads, Rob Flynn would abide.

Byzantine – To Release Is To Resolve Review

Byzantine – To Release Is To Resolve Review

By Saunders on April 15, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 11 comments

“When the term ‘groove metal’ gets bandied about it usually conjures up negative thoughts about some third-rate Pantera ripoff (anyone remember Pissing Razors?) or something nu-related. I mention it here because it’s a term I’ve seen attached to the music of West Virginia’s Byzantine and such a label is ill-fitting for the versatile music the resilient modern metallers create.” Byzantine have a formula, and you guessed right, they’re gonna use it!

Ram – Death Review

Ram – Death Review

By Rusty on January 27, 2012 in 2.5, 2012, Metal Blade, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, 2 comments

You need a certain amount of courage to name your album Death in 2012, don’t you? I mean this is one of, if not the, most used words in the metal world altogether and it usually reminds lots of fans with Chuck Schuldiner’s seminal band with the same name. On the personal level, I still find myself a little baffled by Ram’s title of choice for their third studio album in thirteen years of making heavy metal. Then again, some may ask me “but what’s in a name?” and I find myself remembering some awesome and meaningful titles like Oblivion Beckons by Byzantine, The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A by Exodus or Mumakil’s Behold the Failure and realizing that there’s a lot in a name.