Calgary’s up-and-coming heavy metal phenoms Osyron ready to rule the stage at the Cranbrook Hotel Pub

by Ferdy Belland

“We’re very excited for the release of our new album, Momentous,” said Krzysztof Stalmach, lead guitarist for Calgary’s exciting tech-metal stars Osyron. “This is our fourth album, and our best one yet! We tested the waters with our audience by releasing a series of four singles through online streaming sites, and the results were amazing – almost 30,000 listeners in the first week alone.

“I think we’re closing in on 60,000 streams now, and the numbers keep growing, especially across Europe and North America; the United States is now the home of our largest listenership. Which is crazy, since before this album dropped, we were sitting at maybe a few hundred listeners every month. The explosion of interest is just insane!”

There is nothing insane about Osyron’s well-deserved acclaim.

Formed in 2012 by Stalmach and fellow lead guitarist Bobby Harley, the band (rounded out by drummer Cody Anstey, bassist Tyler Corbett, and vocalist Reed Alton) has forged their unique symphonic power-metal sound from differing European and American influences and are as impressive in concert as they are carved onto vinyl.

And impressive they will be when they perform live this coming Saturday, November 19 at the Cranbrook Hotel Pub, with opening support from fellow Calgarian metal stalwarts Eons of Earth and the Kootenay’s own psychedelic-rock power trio Garuda.

“We’re zooming back and forth across Western Canada to promote the album,” said Stalmach. “Off to Vancouver, off to Banff, off to Lethbridge – and off to Cranbrook! And after we hit your fair Key City of the Kootenays we’re heading to Manitoba gigs to play back-to-back shows in Brandon and Winnipeg.”

Aggressive touring has always been key in the professional lives of metal bands worldwide, but with the international spotlight growing and brightening on Osyron, the band now finds itself having to gear up for a longer reach.

“After we got over our initial shock with all this new American audience interest, now we realize we have to tour the States! We received a government grant to record and produce the new album, which includes a tour subsidy for international touring, which of course means the US. So come the spring and summer of 2023 we’re hoping to secure shows in the areas where most of our new fans live. And we’ll see what happens from there! We’re looking to securing an opening slot for a larger, more established American band, which is the way to go for us. But even if that doesn’t work out, we’ll just book our own tour.”

Alberta has long been established as Canada’s Heavy Metal Heartland, with Calgary and Edmonton boasting dozens and dozens of bands that stand alongside Osyron in terms of technical flash, lock-tight instrumental prowess, boundary-pushing composition, and exhilarating live shows.

“The first shows we’ve played on this tour were in Calgary and Edmonton, which were amazing experiences. Gigs in those cities usually are. We’re hoping the Vancouver show goes just as well. After we wrap up our remaining shows, we’ll take a touring break for the winter and gather our strength for the new year!”

With 10 strong years in the dark metal waters, Osyron has seen maturity and growth in their work, and a sense that things have comfortably slid into place both personally and artistically.

“Our music has been growing and expanding as we’ve gradually added more people into the band,” explained Stalmach. “Our previous release, Foundations, was a five-track EP, and the songs spoke about various Canadian historical topics.

“Momentous is a full-length LP, and the subject matter for the songs is a bit broader in scope. The lyrics are still very personal-driven. Obviously, over the past few years we all had to cope with the pandemic, and we all had to adjust and deal with the situation in different ways. Lots of different drama happening in everyone’s lives, and that influenced a lot of the lyrical themes.

“The album overall is more of a collaborative musical effort from all five of us, where everybody either wrote big chunks and sections of the individual songs, or various members came forth with full song arrangements sketched out – and that was what we’ve always been pushing for. Internal democracy, involvement, and unity in the creative process. Everybody was bringing in stuff! Anybody can bring a musical idea up, as long as it’s good. We vote on ideas when forming a song arrangement.

“And when we find ourselves with 10 full completed songs, then we all finish them and polish them up…and that’s how Momentous came to be.”

There’s something to be said about how it takes 10 years to create an overnight sensation, and in Osyron’s case the old chestnut rings true. Sensational they are, and long may they run.

Don’t miss out as OSYRON takes the stage at the Cranbrook Hotel Pub (719 Baker Street in Downtown Cranbrook) this coming Saturday, November 19 with opening support from Eons of Earth and Garuda (pictured).

Admission is $10 advance (tickets available at the Pub during regular business hours) or $15 at the door; showtime 9 p.m. 

Images submitted

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