Byzantine is a metal band from Charleston, West Virginia, formed in 2000. They are known for their progressive, technical approach to groove metal, blending elements of thrash, metalcore, sludge and traditional heavy metal. Their music is often characterized by complex riffs, unpredictable tempo changes, formidable rhythmic precision and introspective lyrics, often tinged with social or philosophical criticism. The band is centered around singer and guitarist Chris "OJ" Ojeda, the only founding member to remain constant over the years. Despite relatively modest recognition on a large scale, Byzantine has forged a solid reputation in the underground metal scene thanks to its artistic integrity, perseverance and the quality of its compositions. After an initial series of critically acclaimed albums in the 2000s, including The Fundamental Component (2004) and ...And They Shall Take Up Serpents (2005), the band briefly broke up in 2008 before returning stronger in 2010 with an independent formula, themselves producing several acclaimed records such as To Release Is to Resolve (2015) and The Cicada Tree (2017), the first for Metal Blade Records, followed by Harbingers (2025).
