Born of Osiris kept us waiting for four years.
In 2025, reduced to a trio, Cameron Losch (drums), Ronnie Canizaro (vocals), and Nick Rossi (guitar/bass) finally unveiled their seventh album, Through Shadows, via Sumerian Records.
Lee McKinney (guitar) participated in its creation but left the band a few weeks before its release.
We kick things off with Seppuku and its modern tones that precede syncopated riffs coupled with a few cybernetic samples and furious vocals that quickly set the mood, but which will soon give way to Elevate, which also adopts these energetic patterns. The choruses are more ethereal, including some catchy clean vocals, then it’s with Through Shadows that the band intends to break our necks, offering waves of raw rage under the guise of riffs bordering on Progressive Metalcore, while the break further reinforces the violence before the solo. The track ends rather slowly, then The War That You Are picks up steam again, revealing its simple but devastating riffs with a strong contrast that seems very promising for live performances, especially on this explosive mosh part tinged with a few touches of orchestration. We continue with the disturbing Inverno, whose atmosphere is a little darker but which manages to hold its own by offering catchy passages such as the break and its choruses, then A Mind Short Circuiting takes up the torch by delivering its energetic rhythm that will have no trouble getting the crowds moving. There are even some trap influences before moving on to Burning Light, a shorter, more soothing composition that uses electronic samples to give us a breather, but In Desolation takes its place to reconnect with much brighter tones. The track hits the right note but passes fairly quickly, giving way to Torchbearer with a similar approach that ends with a soothing Electro touch before welcoming Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath) on Activated, a track where samples take on a more prominent role. Saxophone brings a little diversity to the composition and confirms the unexpected prog touch, then Dark Fable plunges us back into violence while diluting its choruses with soaring keyboards, but the finale is still quite intense. A new disturbing touch introduces Transcendence, the next track, then the aggressive riffs return to take their place, including some intriguing leads and a fairly calm final that joins Blackwater and its initial tranquility, which ignites with the appearance of Ronnie‘s roars, but retains its soothing roots, as exemplified by his solo.
Better than the previous one, Through Shadows confirms Born of Osiris‘ return to a sometimes slightly more aggressive style, while continuing to include its new influences. With the recent lineup change, however, one wonders which direction the band will take in the future!
70/100