This is a band I discovered by chance with the release of their first album; I caught them live on tour, opening the Queensrÿche shows in 2015 and I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised, both then and now as I follow their excellent progress.
In this fourth album, the Germans seem to prefer a theoretically safe solution. I say “theoretically” because they don’t seem to take any risk. Their style remains in the familiar territory of their previous albums with the difference that much more work has been done here! On an album with very good compositions and also really meticulous in all its details, Beyond The Black sounds more like Within Temptation…even more so than Within Temptation would sound like themselves!
I am not sure how this will affect the future of the band as they sound like a clone of a bigger and more accomplished outfit but the essence is that “Horizons” sounds really good.
On the album we find two really special guests: the unique Elize Ryd on the song “Wounded Healer” and the awesome Chinese-American cellist Tina Guo on “Won’t Surrender”. I must add that Guo’s videos and explosive presence has become viral on social media for a long time.
“Horizons” is definitely a very good album and if Beyond The Black find their own identity they can definitely accomplish something. If so, Napalm Records would have made a very strong investment!
