Born of Osiris
Born of Osiris is an American progressive metalcore band formed in 2003 in Palatine, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.[1][2] The group originated from earlier incarnations including Diminished, Your Heart Engraved, and Rosecrance, and rose to prominence in the late 2000s by fusing technical death metal, deathcore, and progressive elements with intricate guitar work and atmospheric keyboards.[1][2] Signed to Sumerian Records since 2007, the band has released seven studio albums, including their debut full-length *A Higher Place* (2009) and their latest, Through Shadows (2025), establishing themselves as pioneers in the djent and progressive metalcore scenes.[3][4][5] The band's core sound evolved from aggressive deathcore roots in their early demos and EP The New Reign (2007, re-recorded as The Eternal Reign in 2017) to more ambitious progressive structures, featuring complex time signatures, symphonic influences, and dual guitar leads.[2][6] Key albums like The Discovery (2011) and Tomorrow We Die ∆live (2013) showcased this shift, earning critical praise for their technical prowess and earning tours alongside acts like Meshuggah and Periphery. Founding drummer Cameron Losch remains the sole original member, with longtime vocalist Ronnie Canizaro joining in 2006; the current touring lineup includes guitarist Nick Rossi, guitarist Travis Montgomery (of Threat Signal), and bassist/backing vocalist Dan Marinaro.[2][7] Born of Osiris has faced lineup changes, notably the departure of guitarist Lee McKinney in May 2025 after contributing to every album since 2008, alongside the departure of longtime keyboardist Joe Buras, but continues active with extensive touring, including the Through Shadows USA Tour which concluded in November 2025.[8][7][9] Their music, often exploring themes of existentialism and ancient mythology (inspired by the Egyptian god Osiris), has influenced the modern metalcore landscape, with standout tracks like "Machine" (2013) and "Angel or Alien" (2021) amassing millions of streams.[2][10]History
Formation and early releases (2003–2007)
Born of Osiris was formed in 2003 in Palatine, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, by a group of high school friends attending Fremd High School.[11] The initial lineup included drummer Cameron Losch and vocalist Ronnie Canizaro, along with keyboardist Joe Buras and other early members who contributed to the band's raw, experimental sound rooted in the local metal scene.[12] These founding members drew from the Chicago area's burgeoning underground metal community, where they honed their skills through local gigs and self-recorded material, blending heavy riffs with atmospheric elements.[13] Originally operating under the name Diminished, the band released early demos that showcased their aggressive style, evolving through name changes to Your Heart Engraved in 2004 and then Rosecrance in 2006.[12] Under the Rosecrance moniker, they issued a self-titled EP in 2006, featuring tracks like "Paddy Whack" and "Rosecrance," which highlighted their technical prowess and chaotic energy recorded in a basement setting.[14] A subsequent Preview Promo demo that same year included instrumental previews such as "July 4th" and "New Years Final," signaling their shift toward more structured compositions.[15] These releases, distributed independently, helped build a grassroots following in the Midwest metal underground. In 2007, the band adopted the name Born of Osiris, inspired by the Egyptian god of the afterlife, symbolizing themes of rebirth and mythology that resonated with their conceptual interests.[11] Shortly after, they signed with Sumerian Records and released their debut EP, The New Reign, on October 2, 2007.[16] The EP, comprising eight tracks clocking in at around 22 minutes, featured guitarist Lee McKinney's recent addition to the lineup, bringing intricate leads to songs like "Empires Erased," "Open Arms to Damnation," and the title track "The New Reign."[17] Initially received as a deathcore-influenced effort with brutal breakdowns and symphonic flourishes, it marked their transition to a professional recording act while retaining the youthful intensity of their origins.[17]Breakthrough and lineup shifts (2008–2012)
In 2007, Born of Osiris signed a recording deal with Sumerian Records, which facilitated the production and distribution of their debut full-length album.[18] The band's self-produced A Higher Place, released on July 7, 2009, marked a stylistic evolution toward progressive metalcore, incorporating more prominent symphonic synth elements alongside intricate guitar work and breakdowns.[4][19] To promote the album, Born of Osiris embarked on extensive touring, including appearances on the 2008 and 2009 Summer Slaughter Tours alongside acts like The Black Dahlia Murder and Necrophagist, which helped cultivate a dedicated following within the progressive metalcore and djent scenes.[20][21] These performances, often sharing bills with emerging bands such as Periphery and Animals as Leaders, solidified their reputation for high-energy live shows emphasizing technical precision.[22] In December 2009, guitarist Jason Richardson, previously of All Shall Perish, joined Born of Osiris, bringing his advanced shredding techniques to the lineup and contributing significantly to songwriting and live dynamics.[22] This period of relative stability led to the recording of their second album, The Discovery, released on March 22, 2011, which showcased even more complex instrumentation, including layered orchestral synths and polyrhythmic structures that highlighted the band's technical prowess.[23] Critics praised the album for its ambitious arrangements and virtuosic performances, though some noted its occasionally overwhelming density.[24] Richardson's tenure ended abruptly in January 2012 when the band announced his departure, citing irreconcilable creative differences and lifestyle conflicts as the primary reasons.[25] He subsequently pursued solo projects and collaborations, while Born of Osiris sought a replacement to maintain their momentum.[26]Core albums and stability (2013–2015)
In 2013, Born of Osiris released their third studio album, Tomorrow We Die ∆live, on August 20 through Sumerian Records.[27] The record fused metalcore aggression with electronic synths and orchestral flourishes, marking a refined evolution of the band's progressive sound.[28] It debuted at No. 27 on the Billboard 200, selling over 13,000 copies in its first week. Keyboardist and co-vocalist Joe Buras, a founding member, played a key role in layering atmospheric textures via synths and clean vocals, enhancing the album's dynamic interplay between heaviness and melody.[29] The album received praise for its maturing songwriting, with critics noting improved cohesion in complex riffs and vocal harmonies that elevated the band's technical prowess.[30] Live performances during this era showcased high energy, as the stable lineup—featuring vocalist Ronnie Canizaro, guitarist Lee McKinney, bassist David Da Rocha, and drummer Cameron Losch—delivered intricate sets that captivated audiences.[31] Building on this momentum, Born of Osiris issued Soul Sphere on October 23, 2015, also via Sumerian Records.[32] The fourth studio album delved deeper into ambient and progressive territory, incorporating ethereal soundscapes and extended instrumental passages amid metalcore foundations.[33] It peaked at No. 67 on the Billboard 200. Tracks like "Resilience" exemplified this shift, featuring sprawling compositions that highlighted Buras's ambient synth work and the band's exploratory song structures.[34] From 2013 to 2015, the group maintained lineup stability while expanding their touring footprint, supporting acts like Periphery on fall dates in 2013 and headlining their own U.S. runs in 2014 to promote Tomorrow We Die ∆live.[35] They also joined the Summer Slaughter Tour in 2015 alongside Arch Enemy, solidifying their reputation through consistent, high-octane shows.[36] Critics commended the period's live vitality and songwriting growth, viewing it as a phase of artistic consolidation.[37] As of November 2025, the Through Shadows USA Tour, featuring touring guitarist Travis Montgomery, is concluding its fall dates.Expansion and experimentation (2016–2020)
In 2017, Born of Osiris released the EP The Eternal Reign on February 24 through Sumerian Records, marking a re-signing with the label and celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their debut EP The New Reign.[38] The project re-recorded and remastered the original tracks with evolved production techniques, emphasizing cleaner soundscapes, enhanced keyboard layers, and a tighter overall structure to align with the band's contemporary progressive metalcore style.[39] This release highlighted the group's commitment to refining their foundational material while bridging their early deathcore roots with more sophisticated arrangements.[6] Following The Eternal Reign, Born of Osiris continued their partnership with Sumerian Records for the mini-album The Simulation, issued on January 11, 2019.[40] The record explored experimental sonic territories within progressive metalcore, incorporating intricate synth work and dynamic shifts that pushed the boundaries of their established sound.[41] Central to the album's concept was an engagement with simulation theory, the philosophical idea that reality might be a computer-generated construct, which influenced both the lyrical themes of existential introspection and the accompanying visuals.[42] The artwork, featuring introspective imagery of inward exploration, contrasted with prior releases and reinforced this multimedia approach, including thematic music videos that delved into digital illusion and human perception.[43] The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 significantly disrupted Born of Osiris' momentum, leading to the cancellation of planned live events such as a drive-in concert amid rising case numbers and travel restrictions.[44] Despite these setbacks, the band completed recording for their next full-length album by April, though its release was postponed into 2021 due to the global health crisis and associated logistical challenges. This period underscored a broader shift in their creative process toward virtual promotion and conceptual depth, aligning with ongoing thematic explorations of existential and simulated realities.[45]Recent albums and major departures (2021–2025)
In 2021, Born of Osiris released their seventh studio album, Angel or Alien, on July 2 through Sumerian Records, exploring themes of human duality such as truth versus denial and the impact of negative energy.[46] The album received mixed reviews, with critics praising its technical prowess and melodic diversity while noting some pop-leaning elements in its catchy, accessible structures that occasionally led to a sense of meandering in the midsection.[47][48] Significant lineup changes began in 2024, when longtime keyboardist and vocalist Joe Buras departed the band on March 1 after 21 years, citing a desire for personal growth and new professional opportunities.[49][50] This exit was followed by the departure of guitarist Lee McKinney on May 28, 2025, after 17 years with the group, prompting the band to hold open auditions for a touring guitarist to maintain their performance schedule.[8][51] Despite these departures, Born of Osiris announced their eighth studio album, Through Shadows, on May 14, 2025, and released it on July 11 via Sumerian Records, featuring heavier, relentless riffs that underscored the band's resilience amid the turmoil.[52][53][54] To support ongoing activities, the band recruited touring guitarist Travis Montgomery of Threat Signal in August 2025 for their fall U.S. headline tour, alongside continued European dates, adapting their live sound with his technical precision while preserving core progressive elements.[55][56]Musical style and influences
Genre characteristics and evolution
Born of Osiris is renowned for their progressive metalcore sound, which originated in deathcore but evolved to incorporate djent rhythms, symphonic keyboards, and electronic textures.[57][10] Their music features aggressive breakdowns, melodic leads, and layered synths, drawing from technical death metal's intensity while emphasizing atmospheric depth and rhythmic complexity.[13] Key hallmarks include the use of odd time signatures and polyrhythms, which create syncopated, disorienting grooves reminiscent of djent's percussive palm-muting and rhythmic displacement.[58] The band's influences span extreme metal acts like Meshuggah, whose polyrhythmic precision shapes their guitar work, and tech-death bands evoking Egyptian mythology such as Nile, reflected in Phrygian scales and thematic motifs tied to the band's name derived from the Egyptian god Osiris.[59][60] Symphonic elements, including orchestral keyboards, add cinematic grandeur, occasionally nodding to classical structures for melodic interludes.[10] Formed in 2003, Born of Osiris began with post-hardcore-infused metalcore demos, transitioning to technical deathcore on their 2007 debut The New Reign, which introduced "Sumeriancore"—a blend of syncopated riffs and keyboards that pioneered the subgenre.[58] By the early 2010s, albums like A Higher Place (2009) and The Discovery (2011) shifted toward intricate progressive metalcore, reducing deathcore brutality in favor of melodic prog elements and prominent synths, establishing them as trailblazers in technical metalcore.[58][61] In the 2010s and beyond, their sound grew more atmospheric and experimental, with Tomorrow We Die ∆live (2013) emphasizing keyboards and ambiance, followed by Soul Sphere (2015) reviving technicality amid electronic fusions. Later releases like Angel or Alien (2021) integrated sci-fi synths and expansive atmospherics, while Through Shadows (2025) delivers cinematic progressiveness with emotional depth and crushing riffs, marking continued maturation away from raw aggression toward immersive, genre-blending compositions.[58][60][62]Key technical and thematic elements
Born of Osiris employs seven-string guitars extensively in their instrumentation, allowing for downtuned, extended-range riffs that define their progressive metalcore sound. Guitarists such as Lee McKinney have utilized this setup to craft intricate, syncopated patterns and melodic leads, contributing to the band's technical complexity.[63] Keyboardist Joe Buras provides prominent synth layers, often drawing from diverse musical influences to create atmospheric and futuristic textures that interplay with the guitars. The drumming, handled by members like Cameron Losch, features dynamic shifts from rapid blast beats to groovy, polyrhythmic patterns, enhancing the tracks' intensity and propulsion.[62] Vocally, the band contrasts harsh screamed deliveries by Ronnie Canizaro with clean singing from McKinney, creating emotional depth and melodic hooks that balance aggression with accessibility.[48] The band's production has evolved significantly since their early days, transitioning from raw, self-produced demos with a disjointed, post-hardcore edge to more refined recordings under Sumerian Records. This shift began notably with albums like The Discovery in 2011, where in-house production allowed for tighter arrangements, and continued into later works featuring polished mixes that incorporate orchestral samples for added grandeur and cinematic scope.[64] For instance, Soul Sphere (2015) includes orchestration elements crafted by the band alongside producer Nick Sampson, elevating the atmospheric quality beyond initial raw recordings. Visualizers and accompanying media further enhance this polished aesthetic, aligning with the band's conceptual visuals. Lyrically, Born of Osiris draws from Egyptian mythology, with their name originating from Osiris, the god of the underworld, symbolizing themes of death, resurrection, and the afterlife.[65] Broader motifs include existentialism and simulation theory, as explored in The Simulation (2019), where guitarist Lee McKinney delved into the simulation hypothesis—the notion that reality is an artificial construct—reflecting philosophical inquiries into existence and perception.[66] Spiritual duality appears in explorations of light versus darkness, evident in Through Shadows (2025), which confronts themes of endurance amid loss and inner conflict. These ideas are often visualized in the band's artwork, featuring futuristic, mythological imagery that blends ancient symbolism with sci-fi elements. Song structures in Born of Osiris' catalog typically feature extended compositions averaging 4-6 minutes, incorporating heavy breakdowns for rhythmic intensity, shredding guitar solos for virtuosic flair, and ambient synth interludes for transitional breathing room. Breakdowns are layered with haunting keyboard melodies, while solos—often by Jason Richardson—provide melodic counterpoints to the aggression. This format allows for progressive builds, maintaining conceptual cohesion across tracks. A distinctive element is the recurring use of the ∆ (delta) symbol in album titles, such as Tomorrow We Die ∆live (2013), where it replaces the letter "a" throughout the tracklisting to evoke motifs of change and transcendence.[67]Band members
Current members
The current lineup of Born of Osiris, as of November 2025, consists of three core members who handle the band's instrumental and vocal duties across their progressive metalcore sound.[68] Ronnie Canizaro serves as the lead vocalist, a role he has held since the band's formation in 2003. His dynamic vocal style, blending harsh screams with melodic cleans, has been central to defining the group's intricate song structures and thematic depth over two decades.[8][69] Cameron Losch is the drummer and the sole remaining founding member, also joining in 2003. His technical proficiency on drums provides the rhythmic foundation for the band's complex polyrhythms and tempo shifts, contributing enduring stability to their identity amid numerous lineup changes.[68][7] Nick Rossi joined in 2018 initially as bassist and has since expanded to handle rhythm guitar (since 2021), keyboards (since 2024), and additional bass duties following recent departures. His multi-instrumental versatility supports the band's layered arrangements on their latest releases and tours.[70][68]Former members
Born of Osiris has undergone several lineup changes since its formation in 2003, with multiple members departing over the years for various personal and professional reasons. The band's core has shifted significantly in recent times, particularly with the exits of key contributors in the 2020s.[49] Lee McKinney served as the band's lead guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist from 2007 until May 2025, contributing to every studio album and EP during his tenure as a primary songwriter and architect of the group's intricate progressive metalcore sound.[71][72] His departure was announced amicably by the band, who expressed well wishes for his future endeavors, including his established solo career under his own name. Following McKinney's exit, Born of Osiris initiated an open audition process for a new touring guitarist, specifying requirements such as year-round availability, proficiency in complex guitar parts, and a positive attitude to support ongoing tours and a forthcoming album; however, no permanent replacement was selected, and the band has since operated as a core trio with temporary fill-in guitarists for 2025 tours, including Scott Carstairs (Europe) and Travis Montgomery (US).[73][51][74] Joe Buras was a founding member, handling keyboards, synthesizers, and co-lead vocals from 2003 to March 2024, where he specialized in creating the band's atmospheric and orchestral elements that defined their symphonic progressions.[75][50] Buras announced his resignation to pursue new personal opportunities after over two decades with the group, citing soul-searching and a desire for fresh creative paths.[49] David Da Rocha – bass (2003–2018) Jason Richardson joined as guitarist in 2009 and departed in December 2011 after contributing technical solos and shredding elements to the album The Discovery.[76] His exit stemmed from creative and lifestyle differences, including his discomfort with the band's partying culture, which he later described as a pivotal moment that advanced his solo career.[77] Earlier short-term members included Matt Pantelis, who played guitar from 2007 to 2008 during the band's transition to Sumerian Records and early releases like The New Reign.[78] Other pre-2025 touring additions, such as Lee Evans on guitar (2008–2009 and 2012), provided temporary support amid lineup flux but did not become full-time.[78]Discography
Studio albums
Born of Osiris has released seven studio albums since their formation, transitioning from early deathcore-influenced works to more progressive and experimental metalcore sounds, all primarily under Sumerian Records following their debut. These recordings showcase the band's evolution, with several achieving notable commercial success on Billboard charts. The following table summarizes their studio albums, including release dates, labels, peak chart positions where applicable, and brief notes on format or significance.| Album | Release Date | Label | Peak Chart Positions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Higher Place | July 7, 2009 | Sumerian Records | #73 (Billboard 200) | Debut full-length album. |
| The Discovery | March 22, 2011 | Sumerian Records | #87 (Billboard 200) | Emphasizing progressive elements. |
| Tomorrow We Die ∆live | August 20, 2013 | Sumerian Records | #27 (Billboard 200) | Breakthrough album with first-week sales of over 13,000 copies. |
| Soul Sphere | October 23, 2015 | Sumerian Records | #67 (Billboard 200) | Concept-driven full-length exploring atmospheric themes. |
| The Simulation | January 11, 2019 | Sumerian Records | #3 (Independent Albums), #13 (Heatseekers Albums) | Mini-album conceptualized as part of a larger narrative series; sometimes classified as an EP. |
| Angel or Alien | July 2, 2021 | Sumerian Records | #12 (Billboard 200) | Highest-charting release to date, delayed due to production issues. |
| Through Shadows | July 11, 2025 | Sumerian Records | #27 (Billboard 200) | Album following key lineup changes, marking a return to core sound. |