Dear Reader,
It’s always a risky move naming yourself after one of Britain’s most influential wordsmiths. It tends to be a risk to invite comparisons to anything that has that legendary status but occasionally it pays off. Lord Byron’s connection to music is obvious, notably writing of the “music of the spheres”. Which is a weird thing to name a band after but… I’m sorry you’re going to do some learning here. Byron didn’t originate the term; instead we have to go back to the time of Pythagoras (famous for triangles) who was recorded by Pliny the elder. The term was meant to describe the dance of the planets and how they moved in the heavens. And by this point I’m betting you’re wondering why I’m on this particular tangent.
In 1890s North America, a man was born who would go on to redefine horror. He popularised the idea of great unknowable evils and generally made us all a bit more afraid of what happens just out of our vision. His name was Howard Phillip Lovecraft. Or HP to his friends.
Aside from generally being one of the finest, popular writers of the twentieth century Lovecraft was surprisingly well read with it being documented that he had read both Friedrich Nietzsche and Plini.
In the short story The Horror in the Museum, Lovecraft directly uses the term the music of the spheres although, it isn’t exactly relevant in that story similar concepts do occur in The Music of Eric Zann and in discussion of the outer god Ghroth.
And now to the point. Byron is a Lovecraftian themed metal band named after an English writer.
Except it isn’t.
The band is called BYRON because it’s an old stage name of one of the members.
Thanks to Johannes Lahti for responding to my query and entertaining my curiosity.
The Omega Evangelion is the first full length release by Finnish NWOBHM inspired Doom metallers BYRON. The band has been around since 2019 and for a first outing this is pretty cool. It lays somewhere between LUCIFER and IRON MAIDEN. From soaring Adrian Smith style guitar lines to soulful, almost mystical sounding vocals this album might genuinely have something for everyone.
Through The Eye of The Nightingale has the vague feeling of the alt rock sound that featured so heavily on skateboarding games in the early 2000’s. It’s hard not to imagine a montage of sporting achievement when listening to it. To say that the guitar work is on point would be a vast understatement. Delicate lead motifs folding into pulsing rhythms coupled with soulful vocals of Eteläkari really create a pleasing atmosphere.
In the before times we had these things called ‘pubs’ and sometimes these pubs would put on bands. You’d pay your money and sit with a glass of your favourite filth. Talk to mates and listen to the up and comers in your local scene. BYRON has the spirit of that band. The band that could be legendary if they got the barflies to listen, the band that could headline festivals if given the chance. There are kinks that need to be seen to for next release. But of all the bands you could be listening to right now, BYRON is one you should give a chance. Their technical skills are on point and I suspect will come together as something special if only given enough time. They know how to write a riff, but maybe not the best way to voice it…yet.
As I said before. I like this band. I want to hear more from this band. But the only thing I can say to you, reader, is just go and give them a try. I suspect we’ll all wish we were on board now when they achieve everything they’re capable of.
Rating: 6/10
Words: Jacob McCrone
The Omega Evangelion is out now.
Find BYRON on Facebook.
