Nobody beats the Byz! And now Byzantine has become even more indestructible, having just signed a worldwide deal with Metal Blade Records.
Byzantine’s last two albums, including last year’s well received To Release is to Resolve, were self-released and crowdfunded. Now the West Virginian metal titans are preparing to release their sixth album in 2017 worldwide with a new label home in Metal Blade Records. Frontman Chris “OJ” Ojeda had the following to say about signing with Metal Blade:
“For the last few albums, we have operated outside the fringes of the music community by necessity. I had almost lost hope that we would ever have the chance to showcase our music to the world on a bigger stage. With the help of Brian Slagel and Metal Blade Records, we feel like Byzantine has been given a 2nd chance to make our 1st impression. We are absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to share our brand of heavy music with the world on the world’s best metal label!”
The label move comes shortly after Byzantine also made another change to its lineup, bringing in drummer Matt Bowles to replace longtime member Matt Wolfe. Byzantine has always been a great comeback story, resurrecting in 2013 after suddenly calling it quits upon releasing 2008’s Oblivion Beckons (their third and final album with Prosthetic Records). Signing to Metal Blade seems like a new, exciting start to the next chapter of Byzantine… ok, say it one more time…NOBODY BEATS THE BYZ!
