In October I went to see Beyond The Black in concert. They had an arduous task ahead of them. With Amaranthe having to pull out of the show at the last minute, it was up to them to step up as the main headliner and send the crowd home happy. Let me say this, they managed it and then some. They came off as true superstars and impressed me beyond comparison. I was already aware of them, but that show proved to me that they were the real deal. It was one of the best shows I saw last year. They played a few new songs that caught my ear and they announced that they would be releasing their fifth, self-titled, album in January. I have had a chance to listen to this album in full ahead of its release and I have to say that it’s pretty damn solid. I’m sure if you’re already a fan you’ve already pre-saved or pre-ordered it. However, if you’ve never heard of them or sitting on the fence, then I hope this puts some things in perspective for you.
The album opens with the single “Is There Anybody Out There”. This song is probably my least favourite just because of one little detail that annoys me. The little vocal inflexion on the beat of the riff just frustrates me. Other than that it’s a decent tune but man by the time I finished this song I hated the little “eh” vocal note on the beat of the riff really got to me. It’s just a production choice that I do not like or understand. However, none of the other songs on this album has anything like that. The other singles that they released for the album “Winter Is Coming”, “Reincarnation” and “Dancing In The Dark” all hit just as hard as when I first heard them. I think I prefer the songs live in comparison to the studio version. Especially something like the aforementioned “Dancing In The Dark”. You miss that crowd participation when just listening to the album as is.
However, let’s get into the album tracks. Which I think is where the album truly shines as there are some amazing songs here that I think will go down as Beyond The Black classics. One of my personal favourites is “Free Me” a commanding and intense ballad that has all of those beautiful symphonic metal elements. It’s a brilliant tune and the hook stuck in my head for a while. Another song on the album I enjoy is the infectiously anthemic “Not In Our Name”. Its mix of clean and growled vocals keeps the song feeling fresh as it switches gears with tight guitar work. Definitely a song for the gym. I love how the band can go through musical elements so fluently. Riffs that kick, headbanging rhythm sections and soaring chorus lines where they turn up their metal side. Then when they decide to strive for the melodic, they have passionate melodies and beautiful production arrangements. They really embrace their musicality on all levels and become greater than the sum of their parts. It really is an amazing listening experience.
What a way to start the year! A solid album from a band that I wasn’t even aware that I was a fan of. For lack of a better way to say that, I look forward to my relistens throughout the year to see if I still feel the same way by the end of the year. I think every band is entitled to one self-titled album. An album that’s a statement of intent. When artists have a self-titled album, it’s them saying “This is us, in our purest form”. It says this is the album to listen to. In all honesty, I think they’ve done a great job with this. It’s an enjoyable album that has plenty of high points and plenty of hooks that get stuck in the brain.
CHECK OUT BEYOND THE BLACK
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