I’m not going to say anything corny about one of my favorite metal bands Byzantine, being back in… You know. It’s been eight years since The Cicada Tree, which makes me think more of mortality and the passage of time than I would care to admit, so the implied above phrase would be appropriate.

However, this is a return to form in a way. I hold every Byzantine album in high regard, so it’s not to be taken the wrong way. The band never lost the edge, but I hear some elements I missed from The Fundamental Component back in 2004, which means an adult of legal drinking age was born between that time and now, and I am almost double that. I’ll point to the first example being “Riddance.” The harsh vocals and that rumble transported me to those times when I first started college and had hope. The clean vocals take over in the chorus, which leads to the vocals being placed firmly in the background, then a fantastic solo. The rumbling comes back with over a minute remaining, and it’s over. “Riddance” is good. So, one could say… Nevermind again.

The title track, “Harbingers,” is next, and it continues the early vibes, which I’m sure will be lower in the mix live since OJ said he’s self-conscious regarding his vocals. The sludgy riffs combined with the harsh vocals pave the way for the cleans to be even more impactful. If you haven’t listened to the band before, it should be mentioned the vocals in Byzantine are unique. I love them, but know it’s a point of contention with some who do not enjoy them. As with every track on Harbingers, it seems like it’s only about two minutes because of the urgency displayed, but it clocks in at well over four.

Only a few tracks later is the final track, “Irene.” The intro with its clean guitars lasts about a minute, which is then followed by another dirty riff and clean vocals. It doesn’t get particularly heavy until about three minutes in, but is almost immediately overtaken by some clean guitars, then back into the chorus with its bending, filthy riff. Eventually, there is a tuneful solo beginning with about thirty seconds left, and unfortunately, the album ends.

I know some friends on this writing staff who never paid attention to or liked Byzantine, but I’ve always thought they were missing out. Perhaps it’s because a great friend of mine was working in a studio in (I believe) Point Pleasant, WV when OJ came in after the first video from “… and They Shall Take Up Serpents” was released. Perhaps it’s because of their proximity to where I used to live. Perhaps it’s because the first time I saw them was in 2018, I asked OJ when they were going on, and he said “Midnight,” I scoffed and said I’m too old for that, and he retorted, “I have a gray beard.” It could be any of that, but ultimately, it’s because they’re a great band, they always deliver killer albums, and deserve the recognition. Harbingers is a true album of the year candidate, which means you should listen to it, buy it, and while you’re at it, scoop the rest of their discography, although I’m sure a few of the albums aren’t easy to come by these days.

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