EP Review: Beyond Grace – Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 2 (Self Released)

Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 2 is the second instalment of a trilogy of EPs from progressive death metal band, Beyond Grace. Due to be released on November 22nd, 2024, this new EP builds on the success of Part 1 and features three brand new tracks, inspired by the works of George Orwell, Agustina Bazterrica, Charlie Brooker, and more.

Has it really been a year since the release of Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 1? Doesn’t it drag sometimes? Especially when you’re eagerly anticipating the next stage of Beyond Grace’s ever-widening musical palette. Happily, the time has now arrived and with it comes three brutish efforts. Each with immense progressive detail and clever layering of different creative elements which help give this whole EP a fresher feel.

Not that anyone needs reminding, but in case you had somehow forgotten that Beyond Grace can be one of the heaviest bands in the UK, this EP hits you over the head with that fact. No amount of melodic touches, even the kind that is tainted by blackness, can change the fact that the first track, Until Morale Improves, is a violent expulsion of bludgeoning brutality.

One of the most expansive Beyond Grace tracks every heard and a bar setter, at least until The Killing Floor arrives to showcase even more beastly heaviness blended with exhilarating progressive elements. Beyond Grace continuing to shake up the death metal formula by infusing a bit more groove into this one than you might expect.

It, like what came before and what comes after, causes violent body spasms through the sheer power of heaviness that has a surprising amount of infectiousness about it. Well, surprising if you don’t know who Beyond Grace are and what they are capable of. Which brings us to White Bear, a track with an ante-upping level of atmosphere drawn from a really dark and moody place. There’s nothing quite like this track on the EP, but it still feels like a Beyond Grace track as the heft they have is still evident. A black and bleak soundscape melded with sinister melody and infused with a sharpened death and technical edge.

Fancy one more? Why the hell not!? After all, it’s a cover. A unique cover, as per usual. Beyond Grace tackling the Sting song, Fragile. The original is a memorable track, and beloved by many. Beyond Grace’s approach is to transform it, not just giving it a death metal edge, and it’s an approach that really pays off. Showcasing more of their proggy ways, while having hefty thrash infusions and plenty of garish death noise too. It’s a challenging listen, but that’s mainly because Beyond Grace find even more ways to push their creative limits as the track goes on.

It, alongside the fantastic three new tracks, results in another stellar release from this band. Their development continues to be startling and no-one who loves well-thought out and measured savagery will come away disappointed here.

Beyond Grace – Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 2 Track Listing:

1. Until Morale Improves
2. The Killing Floor
3. White Bear
4. Fragile (Sting Cover – Streaming Only)

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