On June 2nd, Byzantine will be releasing their Metal Blade debut following two independent releases. The Cicada Tree will be their fifth album, and like their last two, the band has launched a crowd-funding campaign for the album. If you’re going to buy the album as a fan, the main benefit you’ll get from doing it via a crowd-funded campaign is getting the album digitally the week before the release date. However, if you’re a fan, there are plenty of great premium items you can get in on, like an exclusive T-shirt, framed lyric sheets with handwritten lyrics,signed CDs, test pressings of the vinyl, and even a guitar signed by the whole band. Here’s what the Pledgemusic campaign says:

“The Cicada Tree” represents 16 years of a band thriving underground. Heralded as the most underrated band from the NWoAHM Movement, Byzantine has slowly gained a cult like following after releasing 5 genre-bending albums. Now, Metal Blade Records has truly given Byzantine the chance to show their talent on a bigger stage and the band has responded with “The Cicada Tree”, the culmination of many years of musical craftsmanship and the ever broadening of their resounding songwriting. 16 years underground, It’s finally time for the world to hear Byzantine!