As the third millennium got under way, heavy metal fans finally began emerging from their grunge fallout shelters and, having endured an additional period of oppression beneath the mostly horrific reign of nu metal, found some exciting new hard music alternatives before them, at last. Many were these fresh stylistic subsets rising to prominence (including metallic hardcore, neo-thrash, post-metal, and reinvigorated black and death metal scenes), but there were also a few bands too eclectic to categorize, and among the most inventive was West Virginia's aptly named Byzantine. Hailing from the small town of Chapmanville — population of 1,211 on the year of the census and the band's founding: 2000 — Byzantine started out as a trio comprised of vocalist/guitarist Chris Ojeda, bassist Chris Adams (both formerly involved with Morgantown-based thrashers New Family), and guitarist Tony Rohrbough, who were backed by a drum machine on their first few shows before securing the services of one Jeremy Freeman, who was replaced in short order by permanent drummer Matt Wolfe.
Several formative demos were recorded between 2000 and 2002, and the group signed an agreement with a small local production company called DK Entertainment, which went as far as financing the recording of Byzantine's would-be first album, but when they proceeded to sit on the unreleased masters for too long, the bandmembers decided to take matters into their own hands. In 2003, they self-released the six-song Broadmoor EP (named after the studio that spawned it) and were almost immediately scouted by L.A.-based Prosthetic Records, which sent them back into the studio to re-record the EP's songs, tack on four more, and thereby deliver Byzantine's official full-length debut, The Fundamental Component, released in February 2004. With its prejudice-free mix of clean and rough vocals, prog metal technicality, and hardcore aggression, the album didn't fit into any convenient metallic subgenre, and therefore made Byzantine acceptable touring mates for bands as diverse as Caliban, All That Remains, and Lamb of God (who had helped them connect with Prosthetic in the first place), while earning the band a prominent position in what was then being dubbed "the New Wave of American Heavy Metal."
Having already established an intriguing penchant for discussing historical and environmental issues relating to their Appalachian surroundings, Byzantine decided to get all biblical with the title of their sophomore album, ...And They Shall Take Up Serpents (inspired by a local preacher who liked to do just that!), which emerged in May of 2005 and was recorded as a trio following the departure of bassist Adams over the preceding winter months. His replacement, Michael Cromer, hit the road with the group immediately after the album's release, beginning with a headlining U.K. tour (clear evidence of Byzantine's growing popularity), then stateside dates with Eyehategod and Buried Inside, followed by the U.S.-roving International Extreme Music Festival (also featuring God Dethroned, Nightrage, Epoch of Unlight, and several others), before winding own the year with yet another trek dubbed Under the Underground. All of this grueling roadwork and the exposure it afforded for the band came at a bitter price, though, as guitarist Rohrbough decided he'd had enough, and had to be replaced by Eric Seevers for the last of these tours, as well as an appearance at the New England Metal Fest in April 2006 and subsequent dates with Still Remains, Agnostic Front, and, later, Kittie.
Then, Byzantine finally took a well-deserved break at year's end, but by February of 2007, Ojeda, Wolfe, Cromer, and a reinstated Rohrbough were already ensconced in the studio once again, initiating the four-month sessions for what would be their third and most adventurous album yet. In April, Prosthetic released the group's first DVD, Salvation, and then began posting a steady stream of information, cover art, and songs from the forthcoming LP, which was now officially entitled Oblivion Beckons, and whose release was abruptly postponed from that fall to early 2008. This indeed came to pass, but a mere week after the album's late-January release, Byzantine issued a statement announcing they could no longer function as a band and were therefore going their separate ways. More details were not forthcoming and only added to fan frustration over this unexpected turn of events, but when Ojeda began working on an album of classic thrash covers later that year, the reality of Byzantine's demise finally began sinking in, leaving only their influential three-album legacy to serve as some measure of consolation. However, they reunited in August 2010, with a new guitarist, Brian "Hendo" Henderson. Later on in 2012 original guitarist Tony Rohrbough rejoined permanently.
Deep End Of Nothing
Byzantine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look deeply into the eyes of lechery
All fall to knees being to worship me
The brazen son of man I shine of pure idolatry
The trouble with your prayers
Are that they reek of last resorts
I waste not tears on hollow grief
It takes a thief to catch a thief
Pain lays not its touch upon the children born of shame
Your faith awaits to be unearthed
Release the blackened dove for there was never light above
Panning for echoes never birthed
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of ignorance
[Solos OJ, Skip, Wolfe, Tony]
I shall feel nothing no compassion exorcised form me
My mortal coil laid aside no emotions ever to bequeath
The lyrics to Byzantine's song "Deep End of Nothing" are rich with metaphorical language and take a critical look at religious worship and faith. The opening line invites the listener to pay attention to the sound of treachery, or deceit, and to look deeply into the eyes of lechery, or indulgence in pleasures. This suggests that the singer is critical of those who claim to be virtuous or holy but are actually dishonest or self-indulgent.
The next line, "All fall to knees being to worship me," further emphasizes this point by suggesting that some people may be blindly following a false idol or leader. The singer then declares themselves to be the "brazen son of man" who shines with pure idolatry, implying that they too may be a false leader or idol.
The following lines critique the idea of prayer as a last resort and suggest that true grief should not be hollow. The line "In a city without dogs the wolves become the overseers" is a powerful metaphor that suggests in the absence of order, the most ruthless or savage individuals will emerge as leaders. This ties back into the idea of false idols and leaders, as the singer argues that sometimes it takes a "thief to catch a thief."
The lyrics also touch on the idea of shame and religion, suggesting that pain does not touch the children born of shame and that faith needs to be unearthed. Finally, the last line, "I shall feel nothing no compassion exorcised from me, my mortal coil laid aside no emotions ever to bequeath," suggests a sense of detachment or numbness from the singer.
Overall, the lyrics of "Deep End of Nothing" are dense and metaphorical, calling into question the nature of faith, worship, and idolatry.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen closely to the sound of treachery
Pay attention to the deceptive actions surrounding you
Look deeply into the eyes of lechery
Observe the lustful gaze of those around you
All fall to knees being to worship me
People blindly follow and adore me
The brazen son of man I shine of pure idolatry
I am shamelessly self-absorbed and revel in being worshipped
The trouble with your prayers
Your pleas for help are a sign of desperate hopelessness
Are that they reek of last resorts
They are a last ditch effort to avoid a dire situation
I waste not tears on hollow grief
I do not mourn for things that are not truly lost
In a city without dogs the wolves become the overseers
Without checks in place, the ruthless take control
It takes a thief to catch a thief
One must think like a criminal in order to catch one
Pain lays not its touch upon the children born of shame
Those who endure a life of shame are immune to suffering
Your faith awaits to be unearthed
You have yet to discover your true beliefs
Release the blackened dove for there was never light above
Let go of false hope for it was never truly there
Panning for echoes never birthed
Searching for something meaningless is fruitless
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of ignorance
A satirical take on the famous line, mocking the foolish pursuits of society
I shall feel nothing no compassion exorcised form me
I will never experience emotions like compassion or empathy
My mortal coil laid aside no emotions ever to bequeath
As a mortal, I have no emotions to pass on to others
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
daggy174
The amazing solo that starts about 3 minutes in consists of ALL FOUR MEMBERS trading off! How many bands could pull that off?
Chris Shaver
Still one of the best byz songs!!!! Greatest band to ever grace the state of WV.....period
Michael Cromer
Addam1978 love you Adam
Addam304
Solo 1. Chris (OJ) Ojeda
Solo 2. Michael (Skip) Cromer
Solo 3. Matt Wolf
Solo 4. Tony Rohrbough
I'm good friends with these fellas. The new lineup kicks ass too tho!
A B
Criminally underrated band and song.
יותם אבני
Best solo section of the last 2 decades
schabe
Wish I could find a tab for the solo somewhere, it's incredible
Michael Cromer
schabe , OJ is working on it. I’m doing my solo section for him soon for tab
miguel soler
Et pendant ce temps là la presse spécialisée nous survend du Blues Pills,Battle Beast,Nightwish et autres balais à chiottes.Il serait temps de se réveiller les mecs.Byzantine est 1 des groupes les plus sous estimés au monde avec Lazarus AD qui eux,ont malheureusement arrêté suite au décès de leur batteur.RIP Ryan!