The listening of
"Khepri"
is
an experience-discovery. After definitions like
djent/prog/math
metal,
the expectations are for complex
compositions but indeed the wealth music here is not only overloaded sheet of
notes. The complex forms of
BEYOND
THE DUST
carry pleasure because they are listenable. They are not hidden for virtuosos
and professors in music. The over-difficult tempos carry the surprise of the
abilities of the musicians. The diverse guitar approaches are very precise at
their places. The aggressive vocals carry pure pleasure, and the clean vocals
are sung differently in every particular passage of the conceptual work. The
emphasized bass is not simply filling of frequencies but it is turned into a
part of the musicianship.
The four musicians united forces after they played in different formations in
Paris. Their mysterious music is enriched with the misty history of their
formation. They succeeded to unite the classic influences and the affinity to
classic progressive rock. Their full length album, which we discuss here, is
conceptual. Making their multi-component music
BEYOND
THE DUST
seek
inspiration in
DREAM THEATER
and
MESHUGGAH.
The truth is that they are far away from the industrial rhythms of
MESHUGGAH,
as well as they are
far away from the elite music demonstrations of
DREAM
THEATER.
Using the wealth arsenal of instrumental approaches and framing everything in
complex non-common measures, the French quartet achieved the way CYNIC should
sound nowadays if they did not sweep along film music and soft formats! The
songs of
BEYOND
THE DUST
burst into the aggression of metal sound and harsh vocals without leaving you a
moment for common measured head banging or even beat time. The clean vocals and
acoustic guitar ornaments only contribute to diversity and emphasize the
direction of the band. Non-standard is the change of the complex rhythms. The
harmonies jump in surprising consequences that has taken something from the wave
of the American technical death metal in the face of
DEATH,
ATHEIST,
and
CYNIC.
At the same time, the
proggressive
and
djent
influences go beyond
the complicating of any metal band I’ve heard before. This reinforces the
post-metal spice in their works.
Exceptionally brave are the decisions in
"Khepri"
and
this makes the album not proper for the mass of fans, and for sure this will not
bring it commercial success. It's music wealth, however, is at the level of rare
diamond among the collection of intellectual metal! The wealth of
BEYOND
THE DUST
should charm lots of fans in different sub genders. It may also repel some, but
the admirers of the technical metal in all its forms must listen to this album
at least once!
