Review Summary: A Rediscovery.
Like it or not, Born of Osiris are at this point, a force to be reckoned with in the modern metal scene. Since their Sumerian Records debut
The New Reign the Chicago-based act have enjoyed significant recognition, much to the dismay of goateed metal purists the world over. Of course, even fans of the band disagree on which of the quintessentially 'Sumericancore' band's albums is their best, partly due to the band's tendency to emphasize different parts of a core sound that has remained constant throughout its existence.
Truth be told, when the album's lead-off single "Throw Me In the Jungle" was released, I found myself mentally groaning at the possibility of Born of Osiris further forsaking their proggy, jarring, riff-laden sound in favor of the synth-heavy style that made
Tomorrow We Die Alive and
A Higher Place seem onerous to me despite their strengths. Fortunately,
Soul Sphere's middle ground comes off as accessible and gratifying without relinquishing the technical aspects that made
The Discovery such a standout album in my eyes.
Soul Sphere showcases a Born of Osiris that has fine-tuned every aspect of their trademark sound from gratuitously arpeggiated riffs (Free Fall, Resilience) and futuristic, vaguely edm-gone-spooky synths (The Other Half of Me, Throw Me In the Jungle, Illuminate, The Louder the Sound, River of Time, The Composer) to
The New Reign-era blast-beats (Goddess of the Dawn). Make no mistake, Born of Osiris aren't hedging any of their bets on their latest release. The distraught but optimistic theme that BoO have more or less always embodied once again shows through on
Soul Sphere, and this time both Buras as well as Canizaro contribute clean(ish) vocals.
There's something impressively cohesive in the execution of bands that have kept a fairly stable lineup over the course of several years and record releases, and Born of Osiris is no exception.
Soul Sphere sounds as effortless and natural as if it were recorded in one long session. While Born of Osiris tread heavily on familiar paths, none of the material on the album sounds out of place, and each song's influencing factors can be easily and recognizably traced back to their previous work.
In many ways
Soul Sphere is a culmination of Born of Osiris' entire body of work to date: it serves as an unapologetic affirmation of the raucous, catchy, sometimes-obnoxious brand of metal that so many recognize if not appreciate. Not unlike a full-length middle finger to criticizers, the album cements Born of Osiris once and for all as one of those endlessly polarizing Sumerian bands.
