BYZANTINE

West Virginia's BYZANTINE may have crafted that rare album in "…And They Shall Take Up Serpents" that will appeal to the tech-heads without alienating the straight-up thrash bashers. It's as though LAMB OF GOD got bored and one day decided to spice up the arrangements with the instrumental madness of a THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN or a MESHUGGAH. From opener "Justicia" to closer "Salem, Ark", the album is as musically entertaining as it is metallically ferocious.

It's the chunky syncopation, riff style/tone, and a good portion of the vocals that remind one of LAMB OF GOD, though the band never stands still long enough to be immediately recognized as such. It's the active bass parts and time signature twists, not to mention the instrumental breaks that range from acoustic quietude to lighting quick fret damage, that give the album so much character. The guitar soloing alone moves from shred to prog to jazz, and all points in between. When vocalist Chris Ojeda (who also contributes rhythm, lead, and bass guitar) isn't screaming like Phil Anselmo or LAMB OF GOD's Randy Blythe, he's singing in clean melodic form or busting into a gruff southern rock soul burn. He uses all three styles on the surprisingly tuneful "Jeremiad". As you make your way through what is still a consistently head-bangin' affair, you might hear acoustic guitar ("Red Neck War"),tribal-esque drum beats (end of "Ancestry of The Antichrist") or a vaguely Burton C. Bell style vocal line ("Salem, Ark").

Rather than coming off as mere wankery to the non-musician, the prodigious talent displayed by the band members is used to enhance the arrangements. It's about pushing the boundaries without losing the listener. It's what makes "…And They Shall Take Up Serpents" so damn exciting.