And here I thought there wasn’t going to be anything before the end of the year that could come close to Warcrab, Inter Arma, or Eremit when it comes to the massive and unrelenting heaviness that comes together without too much brutality taking the center stage while still making a well-rounded listen. The name of Byzanthian Neckbeard is one I was acquainted with before, and the surprise that is their upcoming release was one that I just wasn’t expecting that resulting in a very rewarding listen as one of the heaviest pieces of the year that I’ve heard.

This small band from the equally small island of Guernsey was a surprising act when I first heard them a few years ago, and it was until a few weeks ago that I was still under the impression that they were still on a small break for whatever reason. Clearly, I was wrong! And it’s with the surprise of their upcoming album, “Extinction”, that they’ve given us that delivers on everything that Byzanthian Neckbeard threw down with their debut but is improved upon in virtually every single way. The only issue I have with “Extinction” is that there simply isn’t enough! There are three tracks to which this vicious album calls its own but it’s by the time that they’re over you’re simply left wanting more! Each track is chock full of devastating riffs with equally voracious rhythms that spark flames immediately upon the impact that when coupled with the vocals create a fiery experience that hits like a truck and delivers excellence with pristine quality. There isn’t a single ounce of this record that isn’t absolutely massive even in its smallest moments and Byzanthian Neckbeard clearly knows how to capitalize off of that with deadly accuracy to deliver us a brutal experience that’s as heavy as it is intoxicating. It’s obvious listening to “Extinction” that this band still has far to go before they perfect their sound, but they’re not far off with this amazing offering.

It’s the occasional surprise like this that will always make me enjoy keeping an eye on some small bands in the most unlikely of places in the world, and Byzanthian Neckbeard is a perfect example of that as being from such a small island you normally wouldn’t expect such crushing heaviness to find a home. Time can be very fortunate to many bands, and it’s clear that Byzanthian Neckbeard used it to their advantage to make “Extinction” a caustic release that is a very nice find for anyone who comes across it when trawling the underground.

“Extinction” releases on September 27th!

LISTEN to Byzanthian Neckbeard on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Byzanthian Neckbeard on Facebook here.

FOLLOW Byzanthian Neckbeard on Twitter: @BNeckbeardBand