Album Review: The Beast of Nod – Multiversal (Self Released)

The universe’s favourite “intergalactic death metal” entity The Beast of Nod is back with another sci-fi odyssey steeped in tongue-in-cheek absurdity entitled Multiversal. Multiversal is set for release on Earth and other worlds on March 29th 2021. Multiversal is the follow up to the group’s incredibly well-received 2018 debut album, Vampira: Disciple of Chaos.

What The Beast of Nod are capable of, needs to be heard to be believed. Their brand of absurdly high-calibre technical death metal that drips in sci-fi vibes, has a ton of melody and features more guests then you can fit in a space-rocket, is a sound to behold.

From beginning to end, from the first minute to the last, you’ll find yourself sitting there with your mouth wide open. Expect the unexpected and you’re halfway there to understanding this band. The very moment the wild and brutal Flight of the Quetzalcoatlus kicks off, it’s clear this is going to be one hell of a mind-fuck.

…and a mind-fuck it is but one hell of a compelling one. Simply put, this is one of the most fascinating albums you will hear this year. It’s also one of the most savage as The Beast of Nod breathe death metal fire. Delivering unique and blistering tracks like Contemporary Calamity and Intergalactic War!

The first of the guests makes his arrival on Call of the Squirrel. Who is it? Only the immeasurable talent that is Joe Satriani. A man who should need no introduction at all. However insane you thought The Beast of Nod’s guitar technicality was before, you really haven’t heard anything yet. Gobsmacking and a downright ‘laugh out loud’ level of ludicrousness that is hard not to love.

Another guitar talent joins the technical death metal fray for the following Unleashing Chaos. This time Nick Padovani of Equipoise lends his talents to something with a more melodic spark but is still The Beast of Nod as ruthless as ever.

Speaking of ruthlessness though. The Plan for Multiversal Creation goes above and beyond in both the sci-fi and savagery department. The continuation of unspeakable technicality, raging heaviness and unusual melodies proving to be impossibly addictive.

John Matos of Abiotic then lends his guitar wizardry talents to one of the more epic sounding efforts, Guardians of the Multiverse before The Beast of Nod throw just about everything at the wall with The Latent Threat. Does it all stick? Just about but it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with them.

Thankfully, before it perhaps jumps the shark, it’s over but not before one last enormous effort in the shape of ShRedding OF the Cosmos. What makes this so gargantuan? Well, for starters it features not just one guest guitarist but three. Sanjay Kumar of Wormhole, Matias Quiroz of Bleak Flesh, and Michael Angelo Batio.

Then there is the fact that it is the most cosmically reaching effort so far while also being one of the more guttural sounding. The grandiose elements complimenting the filth that The Beast of Nod and their guests have chosen to spew out with this finale.

You can close your mouth now.

The Beast of Nod – Multiversal Full Track Listing:

1. Flight of the Quetzalcoatlus
2. Contemporary Calamity
3. Intergalactic War!
4. Call of the Squirrel (Featuring Joe Satriani)
5. Unleashing Chaos (Featuring Nick Padovani of Equipoise)
6. The Plan for Multiversal Creation
7. Guardians of the Multiverse (Featuring John Matos of Abiotic)
8. The Latent Threat
9. ShRedding OF the Cosmos (Featuring Sanjay Kumar of Wormhole, Matias Quiroz of Bleak Flesh, and Michael Angelo Batio)

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