Formed in early 2005, The Browning was originally a solo project of Jonny Mcbee. Later, the rapper Matt Keck joined the project. Later on in 2010, Matt Keck left The Browning to be a comedian, and appeared on Tosh.0 in a viewer video titled "I'm a Snake". The two EP's saw a change in style as drummer Noah Robertson, guitarist Brian Cravey, and bassist Jesse Glidewell joined. In late 2011, Brian Cravey was replaced with Collin Woroniak, and they released their video for "Bloodlust". The band's debut album, Burn This World, was released in October 2011 on Earache Records. During early 2012, The Browning toured with Fear Factory and Shadows Fall on the Noise in the Machine Tour. During this time, guitarist Drew Ellis joined the band, making their largest line-up to date. They also toured with Static-X on the Noise Revolution tour. The band performed With Full Force Festival in Germany in the summer of 2012 and toured on the Impericon Never Say Die!European Tour in October 2012. Shane Robinson, St. Louis Cardinal's Center Fielder used the song "Ashamed" as his official walk-out song in 2012. On November 16, 2012, it was announced that Noah Robertson and Jesse Glidewell were leaving the band. Drew Ellis switched to bass and Cody Stewart was asked to join as their new drummer. Jonny McBee is now the only original member. On August 2, 2013, the band announced that they would release a new album entitled Hypernova through Earache Records as well as releasing a new song from that record entitled "Gravedigger". On January 27, 2015, it was released to the public that Alex Maggard would be the 5th member of the band, making the lineup its largest since 2012. The first tour he appeared on was "The Confessions Tour" featuring Alesana, Capture The Crown, Conquer Divide, and The Funeral Portrait. On July 26, 2015, Collin Woroniak announced via Facebook that he would be leaving The Browning for unknown reasons. Woroniak returned in the summer of 2018, first as a fill-in and later full time, as the bassist/vocalist. On June 24, 2016, the band released their 3rd full-length, Isolation. On August 16, 2018, the band released the song "Carnage". Besides eleven other tracks, this song would be part of their fourth album Geist. The new album was released on October 26, 2018.
Musical style
While originally a rap/metal project, The Browning now plays what can be described as a combination of extreme metal with strong electronic characteristics. Their electronic side incorporates hardstyle, trance, electronica, and dubstep, while their metal side incorporates metalcore, deathcore elements. Their signature style is a hybrid of double-bass drumming, 808's, and chugging; creating a solid, pounding rhythm layered with electronics. Their lyrics focus on many different topics, such as sci-fi themed songs with aliens, zombies, vampires, Pokémon or songs with positive messages.
