VELVET THUNDER

Osyron began life when formed in 2004 in Ontario, Canada but was originally called Morbid Theory and released two demos under this banner (Chaos Breed in 2006 and Harbinger in 2010) before making some personnel changes and relocating to Alberta. This then led to the name change and, in 2012, they took on the moniker of Osyron. They are very much a symphonic/progressive metal band with the line-up of Reed Alton on vocals, Krzysztof Stalmach and Bobby Harley on guitars, Tyler Corbett on bass and Cody Anstey on drums. They then re-recorded the Harbinger album and put this out again in 2013 but this time as Osyron. This was then followed up in 2017 by the second album Kingsbane with Foundations being the band’s latest release and it is more of an EP than a full length album.

Osyron is a progressive band with a dark edge to their music which very much is in early Dream Theater, Symphony X and Kamelot territory and very good the band is too. The two early albums are thoroughly enjoyable progressive metal pieces with great songs, marvellous guitar and neat vocals – which has set them up nicely for the latest release. Tnd there definitely seems to have been an upping in standards as this album sounds and feels as though they have increased the intensity, and there also seems more authority in the song writing, and all are delivered perfectly. For those who take particular interest in lyrics then you will find this an interesting release as the songs all concern the colonial past of Canada – and to quote the accompanying publicity, the songs relate to “Canada’s colonization to the mistreatment and recognition of Aboriginals to the country’s participation in global warfare“. You pay your money and you make your choice and whether you agree with the sentiments expressed in the lyrics or not is up to the individual but they could certainly offend some people but I guess that this was the intention or maybe, at least, to get people talking.

The album actually closes with a metal cover of the Canadian national anthem, O Canada, which was not on the copy presented for review but it seems the band released it as a single in 2018. I have since listened to it on a streaming platform and it is just 84 seconds of fun and a little light relief after the serious nature of what has gone before. They have a brilliant singer in Reed Alton who has a sound of James LaBrie about him and the interplay between the two guitarists is wonderful and the use of acoustic guitars is exemplary and shows that prog metal is just as good when quiet and reflective as it is with two guitars and vocalist screaming in union, to be fair though, there is far more of the latter than former!

Osyron is definitely a band to watch out for and the next plan for the band is to increase the exposure in Europe, it’s going to be fun getting to know them better.