The Browning

Lore & Background

The Browning was formed in early 2005 as a solo project of Jonny McBee. Rapper Matt Keck later joined, but left in 2010 to become a comedian, appearing on Tosh.0 in a viewer video titled 'I'm a Snake'. The band's early EPs 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 the band released their video for 'Bloodlust'. Their debut studio 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. Guitarist Drew Ellis joined, making their largest line-up to date. They also toured with Static-X on the Noise Revolution tour and performed at With Full Force Festival in Germany in summer 2012. Shane Robinson, St. Louis Cardinal's Center Fielder, used the song 'Ashamed' as his official walk-out song in 2012. In November 2012, Noah Robertson and Jesse Glidewell left; Drew Ellis switched to bass and Cody Stewart joined as drummer. Jonny McBee became the only original member.

Subsequent albums include Hypernova (2013), Isolation (2016), Geist (2018), End of Existence (2021), and OMNI (2024). The band's lineup has changed frequently, with members including Alex Maggard, Collin Woroniak, and others. In 2025, the band released a cover of 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' originally performed by Eiffel 65 and embarked on a European Tour with Polar and The Defect.

Reader's Guide

The Browning is significant for pioneering a hybrid style that fuses extreme metal genres—deathcore and metalcore—with electronic music elements such as hardstyle, trance, electronica, and dubstep. Their signature sound combines double-bass drumming, 808s, and chugging rhythms layered with electronics. The band's lyrics cover sci-fi themes including aliens, zombies, vampires, and Pokémon, as well as positive messages. Over two decades, The Browning has maintained a consistent output of six studio albums and two EPs, adapting to numerous lineup changes while remaining anchored by founder Jonny McBee. Their 2025 cover of 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' and European tour demonstrate ongoing relevance. The band's legacy lies in their role within the electronicore subgenre, influencing how metal and electronic music can be integrated.

Did You Know?

• The Browning was originally a solo project of Jonny McBee in 2005.
• Former rapper Matt Keck left the band in 2010 to become a comedian and appeared on Tosh.0.
• The band's fifth studio album End of Existence was recorded and performed entirely by frontman Jonny McBee.

Origins & Evolution

The Browning traces its roots to early 2005 in Kansas City, Missouri, where vocalist Jonny McBee launched what was initially a solo endeavor. The project quickly grew beyond one person, welcoming rapper Matt Keck as a second voice. By 2010, Keck departed to pursue comedy—eventually landing a spot on Tosh.0 with a viewer video called "I'm a Snake"—and the band's sound shifted as new instrumentalists filled the void. Over the following years, the lineup cycled through numerous guitarists, bassists, and drummers, including Brian Cravey, Jesse Glidewell, Noah Robertson, Drew Ellis, Cody Stewart, Alex Maggard, Collin Woroniak, and others. By late 2012, McBee stood as the sole remaining original member. The group's current configuration pairs McBee with bassist/guitarist Akeem Bivens (joined 2022) and drummer Keenan Bivens (joined 2025), all under the FiXT label.

Musical Identity & Style

What sets The Browning apart is their refusal to be pinned to a single genre. Their sound fuses the aggression of deathcore and metalcore with the pulsing energy of hardstyle, trance, electronica, and dubstep. The backbone of their live and recorded performances is a distinctive rhythmic layer: double-bass drumming interwoven with 808 bass hits and heavy chugging guitars, all topped with electronic production. This creates a pounding, hybrid wall of sound that feels simultaneously organic and synthesized. Lyrically, the band ranges widely—songs can center on alien invasions, zombie apocalypses, vampire lore, even Pokémon, while others carry uplifting, positive messages. This eclecticism means no two tracks sound alike, and the band's evolution from a rap/metal project in 2005 to a fully electronic extreme-metal act reflects McBee's ongoing experimentation with programming and production.

Discography & Milestones

The Browning's catalog spans two EPs and six studio albums, marking steady creative growth. Their debut, Burn This World, arrived in October 2011 on Earache Records, followed by Hypernova in 2013 and Isolation in 2016. Geist (2018) featured the Jake Hill collaboration "Carnage" alongside eleven additional tracks. A notable turning point came with End of Existence, released December 3, 2021—recorded and performed entirely by McBee as a solo effort, a rare move for a band project. The sixth album, OMNI, dropped November 8, 2024, signaling a new chapter with the Bivens brothers in the lineup. Singles like "Gravedigger," "Pure Evil," "Dragon," "Poison," and "HIVEMIND" punctuated the years between albums. In January 2025, the band released a cover of Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)," a playful nod to the electronic roots that underpin their sound.

Touring & Cultural Reach

Beyond the studio, The Browning built a reputation as a formidable live act. In early 2012 they shared stages with Fear Factory and Shadows Fall on the Noise in the Machine Tour, then joined Static-X for the Noise Revolution tour. Their international footprint expanded with a summer 2012 slot at Germany's With Full Force Festival and an October 2012 run on Impericon's Never Say Die! European Tour. The band's music also crossed into mainstream sports culture when St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Shane Robinson adopted "Ashamed" as his official walk-out song in 2012. More recently, the group headlined the Confessions Tour alongside Alesana, Capture the Crown, Conquer Divide, and The Funeral Portrait. In July and August 2025, they embarked on another European tour featuring Polar and The Defect, continuing their pattern of pairing extreme metal with electronic energy on stages across the continent.