Reviews list for Born of Osiris - The New Reign (2007)

Born of Osiris is a progressive metalcore/technical deathcore band who ended up rising to fame with their first ever official mind-blowing ear-shocking release, The New Reign! Now I don't usually review EPs, but this one is so important for me to review it if I'm ever going to review the entire Born of Osiris discography. The band has some super-powerful riffs and melodies, probably more than many other progressive metalcore bands I've listened to.

The New Reign stands out as a unique sound so different. The band employs different techniques with everything including odd time signatures used by more progressive mathcore bands, post-hardcore beat-breaking riffs to catch your attention, melodic two-guitar harmonization normally heard in metalcore/melodeath, fast bass, highly technical drum styles, melodic keyboards with harmonizing riffs, heavy tone that's both wonderful and harsh, speedy lead patterns that would make the Acacia Strain proud, and overall, melodic yet dissonant deathcore. The 8 songs in the album are rather short, each at 2 or 3 minutes, a common grindcore element, making it only over 20 minutes long. If the songs were twice those lengths, that would be a full album right there. Those songs are short and a quick listen, but they really have the Born of Osiris spirit.

"Rosecrance" is an unusual yet mind-blowing opening track. It is one of the oldest songs by the band to be re-recorded from an earlier demo, the first version being as early as 2004, when they were a post-hardcore/deathcore band called Your Heart Engraved. In the song, the keyboard doesn't appear until the end. There's a lot of sharp chugging in the guitars, made groove-sounding with the impressive vocals. After over the first half-minute is a lovable but annoying break that would confuse you until you listen to more of the riff-wrath and drumming. "Empires Erased" is a good song to listen to. It has a catchy main riff, along with harmonized guitar and speedy bass. The groovier parts are the best, but what really hits the spot is the epic video game-like keyboarding.

"Open Arms to Damnation" is probably the best track of the album, and it really should've started the album as track #1 with "Rosecrance" as track #3. It has the best riffs and keyboards. Vocals are catchy and fun. And the ending guitar melody is impressive. "Abstract Art" is just wonderful and aptly named. After a quick 10-second fade-in, a speedy technical riff plays immediately before changing tempo while staying technical. Some of the other riffs are the most melodic here. There's also an awesome oriental keyboard break and a sick breakdown. The title track is not bad but not appealing enough. At least there's another video game-like keyboard break and melodic breakdown.

"Brace Legs" is one of the most popular songs by Born of Osiris at that time. Definitely more melodic with epic keyboards. There's also some faster bass and probably the great breakdown of the album. What kinda better way to start the next track "Bow Down" with these lyrics shouted out, "F***ING BOW DOWN!!" Another favorite and probably the album's heaviest headbanging track, despite not being so technical. More video game soundtrack influences appear in one of the only solos in the album. "The Takeover" is not exactly one of their best songs, but it has one of the album's greatest chugging riffs at around the 45-second mark, but it keeps switching to that riff. It also ends the album on a good note with the fading piano outro that would fade in the band's next release and first full-length album, A Higher Place. To be continued, I guess?

Born of Osiris has nothing similar to most other bands, they're completely different! The New Reign is very unique with wonderful appeal. The tone is heavy but can give headaches to anyone who can't handle that amount of heaviness. It's not one of my favorites but still has some awesome highlights. Melodic metalcore might enjoy this album, yet the better metalheads to recommend are those who listen to deathcore like The Acacia Strain and the more extreme side of progressive metal like Meshuggah. But this would definitely NOT be for anyone who doesn't like heavy harsh vocals with dissonant music and just prefers the mundane verse-chorus form....

Favorites: "Open Arms to Damnation", "Abstract Art", "Brace Legs", "Bow Down"