Born of Osiris

In almost every case, a band with more than five members can afford to lose at least one. (Slipknot is no exception — decide for yourself who's dead weight.) Born of Osiris, though, is that rare thing: a sextet that makes the most of every member's contribution. Though its 2007 "full-length," The New Reign, is an ultra-compressed blast of deathcore (eight songs in 21:30), everyone gets space to show off his skills. Drummer Cameron Losch's beats are intricate yet comprehensible; guitarists Matt Pantelis and Lee McKinney play complex riffs and short but fascinating solos; vocalist Ronnie Canizaro barks and growls without ever descending into mere barbarity; and keyboardist (!) Joe Buras adds BoO's secret weapon — a hint of prog ambition within tech-death's self-imposed boundaries.