Byzanthian Neckbeard Reveal New EP, ‘Extinction’

I have little clue what daily life is like on Guernsey, an island in the English Channel near France, but I imagine it provide fertile breeding ground for dismal, doom-laden creations of all sorts and shades. It’s been four years since we last heard from one of its chief inhabitants, BYZANTHIAN NECKBEARD, but now they’ve rebounded with a grim new spin called ‘Extinction’ (2019), which Doomed & Stoned is pleased to premiere for your listening delight.

A bastardization of the “Byzantine,” a word that carries with it a wealth of historical intrigue. Byzanthian Neckbeard conjures images of a gruff, grungy, fingers-to-the-bone kind of existence, where shaving is the least of one’s worries – surviving the night to face another day is the chief concern of any living creature. The first thing you’ll notice about Extinction, in fact, is its primitive quality. Deep bass, harsh vocals, a stern guitar tone, and a “heave-ho” beat calls to mind galley slaves working the oars of a mighty Roman battle ship to the incessant beat of the drum.

There is an almost heartbeat-like dimension to the rhythms of Extinction, giving each track a visceral quality that immediately connects with the listener on a bodily level. Just keep listening, you’ll notice it soon taking you over, if not in the opening number, “Coffin Bomb,” then certainly by the record’s concluding title track.

Keep an eye out of Extinction by Byzanthian Neckbeard, dropping this Friday, September 27th (pre-order here).

Give ear…

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“Stranded on an island enveloped by fog, lost in the English channel and forgotten by time there is only doom.”

Byzanthian Neckbeard dragged itself into existence in early 2013 to set about creating their own brand of sonic doom. One year later, in August 2014 the fruits of their labours was inflicted on the world when “From The Clutches of Oblivion” was released. Later that year guitarist Jon Langlois chose to depart the band.

The loss of a member unleashed a new, heavier, 3 headed beast set to walk an altered path. Dan added a second voice to the mix, giving the songs a new direction. Retaining their signature groove and mixing different aspects of Sludge, Doom, Thrash, Black and Death the band has moved on to plumb new sonic depths. From those depths, new horrors have arisen. The creation of the second album has been a long and arduous road, but in 2019 the second age is finally upon us.

Some bands quite simply embody their name in every shape and form, and when it comes to Byzanthian Neckbeard… you get the picture quickly. Riff-laden doom is on offer on this follow-up EP, after their début From the Clutches of Oblivion took them out of their native Guernsey and straight onto the New Blood Stage at UK’s Bloodstock Festival.

'Extinction’ takes a while to limber up, but once “Coffin Bomb” gets into the swing of things, the trio put on a no-punches-pulled performance across each of the three tracks. Phil Skyrme’s guttural vocals match up to the rough-and-fuzzy riffing, matched perfectly to Dan Robilliard’s muscular bass playing and Paul Etasse’s precise and groove-driven drumming. “Extinction” takes us out with a seven-minute stomper.

Thus the EP ends, ready to be looped again until more material emerges from the island-bound miscreants who go by the name of Byzanthian Neckbeard.