Beyond The Grave
I must say I’m a fan of any metal record that opens with a sitar. Granted it doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, look out. That’s all I’m saying. So it is with a haunting 25 second refrain played on this most delectable of instruments that Beyond The Grave’s third EP “Sands Of Desolation” begins, before being seismically kicked out of the way by a pulverizing onslaught of old school melodic thrash and modern-day metalcore.
These still-unsigned guys from Newcastle have managed to succeed where many of their contemporaries fail, to produce an infectiously furious-sounding metal record littered with nods to the old guard whilst remaining defiantly original, and doing it all with utter conviction.
Huge, stomping riffs, pulsing bass-lines and enough blastbeats to keep at least me happy provide the foundation for this devastatingly direct 24 minute statement of intent. Adam Jackson’s vocals range from clean and melodic to growls that seethe and snarl like some pissed off animal and the soaring twin guitar riffage of Luke Harrison and Warwick Baines Bennett simply shreds.
The four tracks that make up this agro little number average the 6 minute mark, and from the opener ‘Before My Eyes’ to title track ‘Sands Of Desolation’ the intensity and grinding brutality throb away, only giving way to a few atmospheric interludes and melodic passages before it all takes off again.
Although there are a couple of moments when they edge precariously close to Trivium-territory, this is a superb metal record delivered with muscular authority and enough vicious, no-nonsense thrash riffs that should get some decent wind-milling action from the crowd when they play live.
For an unsigned band the production is incredibly clean without ever sounding over-produced and the musicianship is extremely professional, proof that these boys are clearly in this for the long haul.
Beyond The Grave are currently recording a new album due to be released later in the year with a tour of the midlands and south planned for august, and I think it’s safe to assume that judging by this most recent effort they won’t remain record label-less for long.