Byzantine is an American progressive groove/thrash metal band from Charleston, West Virginia, that was formed in 2000. As of June 2025, the band consists of frontman and co-founder Chris "OJ" Ojeda (vocals), Brian Henderson (guitar), Tony Rohrbough (guitar), Matt Bowles (drums), and Ryan Postlethwait (bass). The band has released three studio albums on Prosthetic Records, two independent albums, and two albums on Metal Blade Records. Byzantine is known for its unique sound and modern, "forward thinking" musical style which explores different musical territories and song structures.

The band split on January 26, 2008, one day after the release of their third album, due to various circumstances, but reunited in 2010. In March 2016, Metal Blade Records announced that they had signed the band to a worldwide deal, and the band has since released two albums on the label.

History

Byzantine was formed in the spring of 2000

Subsequently, the band recruited local musician Matt Wolfe on drums. Ten songs featuring Wolfe were recorded in 2003 at Broadmoor Studios in Huntington, West Virginia and were released as The Broadmoor Demo, gaining the interest of Lamb of God's drummer Chris Adler. Byzantine then had a short East Coast tour with Lamb of God. This tour helped them obtain new fans and a deal with Prosthetic Records. The band announced its break up one day after the release.

On January 26, 2012, it was announced the band was reunited with original lead guitarist Tony Rohrbough and had plans to record another album, which was to be self-funded. On February 26, 2013, their self-titled album was released. Bassist Michael "Skip" Cromer left the band due to finding religion.

On May 29, 2014, it was announced that Byzantine would be recording their fifth album that September when producer Jay Hannon returned to West Virginia with new guitarist Brian Henderson and new bassist Sean Sydnor. On April 7, 2015, the studio album To Release Is to Resolve was released independently by Byzantine.

In March 2016, the band announced on social media that they had signed a four-record contract with the label Metal Blade Records. The band began recording in late summer 2016 for a spring 2017 release. The band once again worked with Producer Jay Hannon. Byzantine recorded at Byzantine Studios and 7 over 8 Studios. The release date of The Cicada Tree was pushed back from spring to June 2 and ultimately was released on July 28, 2017. Byzantine then set out on their first true North American tour from mid-September to October 2017, in support of thrash metal band Sacred Reich. Byzantine also introduced a new level of crowd interaction as a Tier on their Pledge Music drive. They gave 1 fan the option to buy a tier that allowed them to pick 75% of that night's set list.

On June 13, 2025, Byzantine released their seventh full-length album, Harbingers, also through Metal Blade Records. Four months earlier, on February 15, 2025, the band announced that original guitarist Tony Rohrbough was rejoining, this time alongside Brian Henderson. The album was recorded before Rohrbough's return, but he has been featured in the music video for the album's first single, "Floating Chrysanthema". Since the release of this music video, rhythm guitarist and singer Chris "OJ" Ojeda has shifted to exclusively vocal duties in live settings.

Musical style, influences and lyrical themes

Byzantine plays progressive thrash, which was compared by Decibel Magazine to Testament and Megadeth, with power grooves comparable to Meshuggah or Lamb of God, and occasional clean vocals. The band's former record label, Prosthetic Records, also compared them to Pantera. Their music has been described as simultaneously melodic and aggressive. Growing up in West Virginia has helped Byzantine develop a unique sound. "We are quite alienated from any big scene", explains Ojeda. "Therefore, we tend to think for ourselves a lot more when writing material.")

Videography

  • Jeremiad: A Video by Donnie Searls – (2006, Mini-DVD, Atma)
  • Salvation – (2007, DVD, Prosthetic Records)
  • "Soul Eraser" – (2013)
  • The Agonies – (2015, Screaming Butterfly Entertainment, directed by Holly Siders, MA, MFA)
  • You Sleep, We Wake (Lyric Video) – (2015, Screaming Butterfly Entertainment, directed and animated by Holly Siders, MA, MFA)
  • Justinian Code – (2016, Screaming Butterfly Entertainment, directed by Holly Siders, MA, MFA)
  • New Ways to Bear Witness – (2017, Screaming Butterfly Entertainment)
  • Floating Chrysanthema (Official Video) – (2025, Metal Blade Records)

References

  • Official website
  • Byzantine at Prosthetic Records