Byzantine came out with force with their last full-length effort, The Cicada Tree. But looking at the timeline, that was now eight years ago! How quickly time flies when as you get older, but with the announcement that Byzantine was back with their long-awaited follow-up, Harbingers, it was cause for some celebration. Even though the potent Cicada Tree didn’t seem to lift Byzantine above the ‘perpetually underrated’ status that they’ve now maintained for 25 years, Harbingers once again brings forth the hope that many will catch on to this act given it’s strength in songwriting and grooves.
Honing in on both directions of the band’s sound, Harbingers pushes forward Byzantine’s evolution in a way that’s natural and fitting for fans both new and old. The band’s knack for vicious grooves that lumped them in with the NWOAHM in the early 2000s still remains intact. Early single “Floating Chrysanthema” all but hurls big, meaty grooves at the listener in a way that you can’t help but nod your head along with them. “The Clockmaker’s Intention” employs a more subtle build-up, featuring more of their progressive structures that constitute the second direction of the Byz’s sound, but by the time they launch, it’s hard not to take notice. “Riddance” is probably the closest to a NWOAHM track you’ll hear, with blistering (yet technically proficient) grooves assailing the track in a playful and ear-grabbing way. Of all the cuts, it’s the one most likely to give you a sore neck.
As already alluded to, Byzantine’s more progressive side continues to grow and flourish. Melodic finisher “Irene” is one of the most clear-cut examples, starting off with a graceful clean guitar opening before setting off into some catchy grooves. The track moves into some sweeping melodies as it continues along, not to mention some intricate riffing sequences and beautiful soloing. “Kobayashi Maru” revels in big grooves, but with a careful ear, you can hear the inner workings a bit more, and the progressive stylings give the song some extra lift. Lastly, the almost joyous melodies that fit in the title track are an excellent touch to the groovy song, providing a dynamic that’s exciting and really makes the contrast pop.
An excellent mash-up of pounding grooves and intelligent riffs (and lyrics), Byzantine manages to capture the best of both worlds on Harbingers. How the group still hasn’t been able to really take-off is still a wonder, but perhaps this new effort will finally turn the ship around. Byzantine may have taken their time with this one, but it only takes a listen or two in order to see how worth it that meticulous effort was.