Album Review: Beyond the Black – Beyond the Black (Nuclear Blast)

German symphonic metal band Beyond the Black enter their 9th year of existence with the release of their 5th studio album. Self-titled, it will be released on January 13th, 2022.

Talk about a band that doesn’t stop. Beyond the Black’s output over the past near-decade has been impressively consistent and they enter 2023 with the same amount of fire and drive as ever before. As bombastic as ever, in fact. This self-titled release is a powerful showcase of this band’s abilities and they don’t hang about.

Kicking proceedings off with the infectious symphonic hit of Is There Anybody Out There. The immediate thump of the metal and the soaring vocals get the blood pumping nicely. From that energised opening to something with darker melody and crunchier metal moments on Reincarnation. The contrast of vocals really works well here. Followed then by the uber-drama of Free Me, a track that takes the album into grander, more epic locales. Beyond the Black showcasing variety in their symphonic metal sound within this part of the record.

Liable to send a chill through the spine with its icy tundra of a soundscape, Winter is Coming is all about its energised chorus. Whereas Into the Light turns the brightness up when it seems as though heavier gloom might be the dominating feature. Easily one of the album’s most anthemic songs. Before Wide Awake proves to be the album’s most melodically pleasing track, and Dancing In the Dark is bombastic brilliance.

Interest in what Beyond the Black are doing is kept high thanks to strong latter portion of the record too. Raise Your Head’s touch of electronica contrasting well with the band’s elegant symphonic heaviness. Not In Our Name leaning into ambience and melody, but bringing back the more aggressive vocals for another excellent example of balance. Before I Remember Dying ends the album in mournful, emotional, and powerful fashion.

An exceptional finale and the cherry on top, as overall, Beyond the Black have outdone themselves on this self-titled release.

Links

Spotify | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter