Review: “Through Shadows” by Born Of Osiris

The journey of American Progressive Metalcore heroes Born Of Osiris may not be over but one final album from the line up that brought us 2019’s “The Simulation” and 2021’s critically acclaimed “Angel Or Alien” means “Through Shadows” very much represents the end of a era. After 21 years in the group, keyboard player Joe Buras exited stage left in 2024 but the bigger surprise came just two months before the new albums release in May with guitarist Lee McKinney announcing his departure. That leaves vocalist Ronnie Canizaro and drummer Cameron Losch the last men standing from the line up that started the project back in 2003 with bassist turned multi-instrumentalist Nick Rossi a veteran of seven years. Curiously its said that the writing process for the bands seventh studio album began just six months after its predecessor in February 2022 with first single “Torchbearer” arriving in August 2023. That was of course followed by “A Mind Short Circuiting” in February 2024, leaving us wondering just how long it has been left on the shelf gathering dust before its eventual release…

…given the departures it feels kind of ironic that the bombastic, urgent, DJent fuelled and synth laced opener “Seppuku” contains the repeated lines “we will not abandon you!” as Canizaro demonstrates his unclean vocal prowess once more. A perfectly placed hard hitting track that continues the narrative from “Angel or Alien“, it proves that Rossi has the talent to handle keys, bass and guitars in the studio with poise and purpose. As if to push the point home “Elevate” has yet more vibrant keys which perfectly contrast the distorted DJent guitars to make for another scorcher of a cut. Fleeting clean vocal lines from McKinney soar as the bass gives it a real gut punch before the electronic bridge into title track “Through Shadows“. Trademark staccato riff breaks reverberate around the skull as McKinney offers up an arena filling clean chorus with a dull ache about it that resonates. It’s hard not to sing-a-long on the first spin and when McKinney delivers a stunning extended solo in the final third you can’t help but think about how much he’s going to be missed. As if to pouring boiling oil over their assailants in some kind of Medieval siege “The War That You Are” is a brutal assault on the senses. Thunderous percussion and chugging riffs are accompanied by rap screams from Canizaro as he declares the band are ready for war, inciting mosh pit violence in the process. Orchestrations make for an epic conclusion.

The polyrhythmic descent to hell continues with “Inverno” although a couple of quirky progressive melodies add a touch of madness as if they represent some kind of inside joke. After that however its all blood and thunder and by this point it feels like Rossi has established himself as an essential cog in the machine, his ability to adapt to the needs of the band something he deserves great credit for. The verve and swagger of “A Mind Short Circuiting” is incredible, the brutal roars of Canizaro alongside the glitchy rhythms a match made in heaven. Here the synths add an epic feel in the same way that masters like Shokran do so and these are used to full effect for a moment of respite during “Burning Light” with bird calls in the woods meeting icy synths and programming. Fleeting moments of Lamb Of God like groove are heard in the circumference of “In Desolation” but there is also a Fallujah like quality to the soundscape as Born Of Osiris pummel the discerning listener into submission in style. The fierce nature of the vocals confirms that after all this time Canizaro still has plenty to vent his spleen about “Torchbearer” another fine example. What’s interesting is that some of these cryptic writings actually have shades of the bands earlier work from the 2011 to 2013 period with the distinctive air of albums “The Discovery” and “Tomorrow We Die Alive” very much in the background. Whether that was intentional or not is a question for the band but to long time fans its as obvious as the day is long.

Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath fame adds some glorious clean vocal moments to the punchy “Activated” but the show is stolen by a saxophone solo that is followed by a piece of lead guitar. Its a moment that is as stunning as it is bewildering, the band not afraid to experiment if it sounds good to their ears. There are shades of “Alien” era Northlane about the start of “Dark Fable” with dark synths at times sounding like they’ve been stripped from a JRPG. They perfectly contrast the harsh unclean vocals and high energy guitars that make this one worth the admittance fee alone but there is more. Twisting and contorting, the guitars in the first half of “Transcendence” are more Melodic Death Metal than anything else on the record, that nuanced element just one of many that flood this album with moments that will bring you back to it time and time again. The brain can’t compute all of them on the first few listens with the pace and energy of the soundscape Born Of Osiris have created and that’s something to be thankful for. Programming offers a melodic finale that would be the perfect place to conclude the album but there is one more bullet left in the chamber in “Blackwater“. A melancholic introduction leads into razor sharp guitars and a powerful couple of verses before an acoustic almost flamenco style guitar part acts as a melodic bridge. Lush clean vocals from McKinney add a moment of clarity before the breakdown hits and its clear we have another stone cold winner on our hands [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Seppuku
2. Elevate
3. Through Shadows
4. The War That You Are
5. Inverno
6. A Mind Short Circuiting
7. Burning Light
8. In Desolation
9. Torchbearer
10. Activated (ft. Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath)
11. Dark Fable
12. Transcendence
13. Blackwater

“Through Shadows” by Born Of Osiris is out 11th July 2025 via Sumerian Records