Progressive metalcore pioneers BORN OF OSIRIS’ forthcoming album “Through Shadows,” was out Friday, July 11. full-length is the band's newest body of work following up their critically-acclaimed 2021 album “Angel or Alien.” “Seppuku” is first. Out of the gate, the song forges ahead with a heavy electronic sound, and deadly harsh vocals. There is a deep groove here also, accented by thick and meaty bass notes. “Through Shadows” is another weighted electronic sound, and the depths that both the riff and the vocals venture to is impressive, as is the band’s use of melody at just the right times. “Inverno” is another thick offering, and that is one thing that the band does very well…filling in the background with atmosphere and other things like keyboards and electronica.

“A Mind Short Circuiting” has a very crushing and brutal sound, and the riffs are always on the move. At times, they create a catchy groove, while other times, they are pounding into you head like a jackhammer. “Burning Light” is a short two-minute song. Crickets can be heard chirping, followed by gentle piano notes, showcasing another side of the band…a warmer side if you will. “In Desolation” tears through your flesh and severs your spine, and the band seems incapable of running out of riffs. There is an injection of melody in the chorus that you can sing along with, in addition to the brutal death vocals. “Torchbearer” has a powerful groove, and I’m not sure which is better…the groove, or the punishment? The band hands out both in equal doses.

“Dark Fable” has another infectious groove as well as bright melodies that cut through the darkness like a beacon. Wrapping the melodies in black contact paper is the name of the game here. “Transcendence” is indeed a transcending song. The riff comes right at you like an arrow shot with tremendous force. Just when you reach out and grab the groove however, it shifts in your hands and is gone. The electronic passage at the end is outstanding. “Blackwater” closes the album, and its gentler tones are unlike any of the other songs on the album. The crushing elements are still there, but they embrace melody with both arms open.

This album is a hybrid beast forged in the pressure chambers of heavy electronica, bone-shattering djent riffs, and absolutely deadly harsh vocals. It’s relentless, groove-wrapped aggression from start to finish, but beneath all the sonic violence lies something even more surprising: melody, precision, and control. Melody is also key. The contrast makes the heaviness heavier, the electronics colder, the brutality feel earned. It’s not a constant presence, but when melody arrives, it cuts through the chaos like light through smoke.