Chaosbay
Biography
After a turbulent start, a three-year break from touring and a line-up change, Berlin-based progressive metalcore band CHAOSBAY really took off in 2020 – more mature, more ambitious, more modern and heavier than ever. They have since toured Germany’s clubs several times as headliners with an elaborate light show and sophisticated live sound with their most recent tour in 2022/2023 being their most successful to date with numerous sold-out dates. The band also played support shows for ANNISOKAY, VENDED, DEEZ NUTS, CLUTCH (USA) and a support tour for EMIL BULLS, among others. In 2023, CHAOSBAY performed on premier league metal festivals like Wacken Open Air and Summerbreeze Open Air nationally for the first time as well as at Takedown (UK) and Progpower (NL) internationally.
In recent years, the four full-time musicians have increasingly developed their songwriting and sound in the direction of progressive metalcore with a catchy tune character. Their most prominent trademark has become increasingly clear over time: the combination of uncompromising heaviness with the highest virtuosity and extremely catchy hook lines. With somnambulistic certainty, CHAOSBAY allow epic melodies to blossom within progressive structures with a light-footed comprehensibility in which, despite all the complexity, you can find your way around just as quickly as in a pop song. The astonishing catchiness of their melodies is so striking that the pan-European music blog THE PROGSPACE has already dubbed them “Germany’s heaviest boyband”.
After three EPs and an initially digital-only debut album, the band released their concept album “Asylum” largely independently in 2020, which received consistently positive reviews in the press. Since 2021, with the support of their new label CIRCULAR WAVE and their booking agency HEADLINE, CHAOSBAY have finally left their status as an insider tip behind them. By releasing the singles to their EP “Boxes” in January 2022, the band set new standards: within just a few months, CHAOSBAY multiplied their reach and achieved a clear six-figure number of downloads with their latest releases and thus significantly more streams worldwide than over the entire years of their previous career. The subsequent album “2222” marked another milestone: “What Is War” became the most successful single to date and already has more than four million streams less than two years after its release.
2024 is dominated by the new album “ARE YOU AFRAID?”, which will be released on September 13 and will also take CHAOSBAY to Belgium and Switzerland on their headlining tour in the fall. The new album also features three high-profile feature guests: Of Virtue, We Are PIGS and Awake At Last.
Video
Reviews
Musically and also production-wise CHAOSBAY could improve once again. Their special way of songwriting makes even the most complicated instrumental events seem coherent even for normal listeners. Hits for music nerds you could say. Progressive Metal disciples should check this album, it is worth to dive deep into the world of CHAOSBAY. You can get a first great impression with the video clip of the song "All this beauty can`t be real".
CHAOSBAY equipped their progressive metalcore with more heaviness and punch but still leave enough room for the progressive elements. The four Germans do not present their technical skills as much as they did on "Asylum" - but with this strong song material
they do not have to prove anything more in this respect. If you are looking for sophisticated, technically high-class Metalcore with a strong concept and independence, you are in good hands with CHAOSBAY´s "2222".
Chaosbay create an album that stands out from the mass of current metalcore/hardcore bands in Germany. Above all, they show that they can sound international and have earned comparisons with A Day To Remember, Parkway Drive or August Burns Red. Sound-wise, I feel transported back to the above-mentioned emo times of the 2000s with this record, which nevertheless knows how to sound today. Thumbs up.
Generally Chaosbay put their focus on the beautiful sounds, which they like to underline with some heaviness sometimes. They play this game throughout the entire album "2222", which, by the way, is a refreshingly optimistic utopia of a positive social development, with great sensitivity, dedication and a sense for the perfect harmony.
Easily one of my favourite new metal discoveries right now is Chaosbay.
Last month, I came across their incredible track ‘Eternal Eyes’ and honestly, I simply cannot get enough of these boys. It’s undeniable that this German alternative metal outfit are closely following the heels of Electric Callboy whilst looking to make a name for themselves in their own right. They’ve just dropped a new track, ‘All This Beauty Can’t Be Real‘ and I’m here for it.
It’s a song about building inner strength and appreciating the beauty of the world around you. The energised new track manages to blend the band’s melodic curves around sharp, edgy DJent riffs before taking us over the edge right at that climactic bridge. After listening to this, it is adamant that Chaosbay is a name you need on your radar this year.
Brutal and emotional. (...) With "Lonely People" Chaosbay have already presented themselves on a high musical level, now the band continues their journey with their new single "Y". (...) Sonically and playfully, the four exceptional musicians take it up a notch.
“Boxes” is a sonorous canvas painted with various colors in a unique palette representing the musical spectrum. Each color has been carefully curated, bravely selected, and brilliantly mixed, which allows the creation of an outstanding EP that sees Chaosbay continue their way as future legends of progressive metal. (9.3 out of 10 points)
I really enjoyed these 20 minutes from "Boxes". Whether it's the opening 'The Prophet', the dreamy 'Ivory Tower' or the bouncer 'Willows By The Lake', it all catches the ear wonderfully and ensures that the EP runs at least twice in a row.
...this troupe seems to be maturing into a serious prog gem worth watching.
...that Chaosbay can write damn good songs... finest prog metal presented in an incredibly modern and mature way...
...tricky staccato rhythms that seem groovy light, wistful melodic vocals and in return brutal growls with a bone-dry, rich guitar sound. ... Frontman Jan Listing is nevertheless one of the most impressive of his guild and masters every musical situation with a distinctly characteristic timbre... The fact that CHAOSBAY also live up to their claim to their own work lyrically makes them all the more likeable.
With this album Chaosbay recommend themselves for the progmetal top league.
Band of the day! There was no more energy and joy in playing on that day and - if I'm honest - on the whole festival. The setlist included "all killers, no fillers" and the band achieved this goal easily. The combination of hard riffs, massive core vocals and almost well-behaved singing was very impressive to this author - who is actually not inclined to join in the cheer. The tight Sjiwa was bubbling with, among others, 'Message in a Bottle' and 'Mediterranean', whereby this song additionally comes with a very profound message and generally reflects the Chaosbay experience well. The guys should reach the next level of recognition as soon as possible.
Chaosbay have evolved since the ambitious concept album "Asylum", which saw the pale light of lockdown in the middle of the pandemic. There is not a millisecond of breathing space in the songs of the four Berliners by choice and not a moment without exuberant euphoria. Attack lust could always be attested to the band, but in 2022 they invite you with open arms to sing their choruses in the pit. The musical finesse and virtuosity always goes hand in hand with listener-focused melodies, and features from international soulmates of Siamese, ONI and Eyes Set To Kill put a bold exclamation point behind the equally bold production.
Chaosbay belongs to the most interesting German newcomers of the last years in the alternative-progressive field. Both the long-player "Asylum" from the year before and the digital EP "Boxes", which found its way to the light at the beginning of 2022, are the best evidence for this.
Chaosbay belongs to the most interesting German newcomers of the last years in the alternative-progressive field. Both the long-player "Asylum" from the year before and the digital EP "Boxes", which found its way to the light at the beginning of 2022, are the best evidence for this. Chaosbay not only provides us with one sharp riff after another and impressive drumming on their new record "2222", but additionally floods us with a multitude of melodic, catchy and almost poppy choruses. However, this is not the only thing that leaves a long-lasting, positive impression: The vocalist sings himself directly under the skin with his angelic voice. Listening is therefore worthwhile in any case!
"Asylum" was already a strong piece of prog in 2020 with that heavy djent/core edge, but on their third album Chaosbay do it all just a little bit better: The riff corset has been tightened so the songs get to the point faster, despite all the rhythmic complexity. The guitar solos could almost be from a "hero-metal-band", and singer Jan Listing can pass as a European pedant to Kim Benzie (Dead Letter Circus), Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT) or Spencer Sotelo (Periphery).
These guys have indeed figured out how to seamlessly combine heavy and aggressive music with sophisticated melodies and hooks that are as good as anything out there currently. Though they flirt with Alternative tones, particularly in the vocals and rhythms, this slab of Progressive Metalcore hints at what the future of Metal can become.
Already at this point, you’ll realize that the four guys from Berlin and Kaiserslautern are not only striving for fulfilling the expectations set for them, but rather to surpass them. (...)
CHAOSBAY are following the path they set for themselves when they released Lonely People. It is still the CHAOSBAY we know and love, but one that has evolved and that is exactly why I’m so looking forward to the next album!
This band is hot. Red hot.(...)
The sound s second to none, every song is nothing but fun to listen to, after the 20th time as much as after the first listen. I'm 100% sure that Chaosbay have a great future ahead of them. Their music truly is in a class of its own. (...)
If I had to give points, "Boxes" would get 12 out of 10.
Wow! Just when I thought Chaosbay had set hardly achievable standards with Asylum, they come around the corner with "Boxes" and raise the bar. Virtuosic, ambivalent, on the pulse of time. The band has the perfect feeling for beat, lyricism and realisation. Bravo! A full 9/10 from me in this still young year.
Chaosbay demonstrate brilliant language skills in djent, prog and jazz. Like a tougher jailbird of The Intersphere and Biffy Clyro, the Berlin-Mannheimers run away from boredom with exciting songs.
This band combines a clear attitude with a great sound. You truly can't ask for more than that.
You want modern-cool and at the same time internationally competitive progmetal bands from Germany? Here's one...