It seems to be my destiny to present Dark Nightmare’s entire discography. Even “Beneath”, which somehow slipped past me back in 2012, has now come my way again as a reissue. And when I say it slipped my mind, I mean only in terms of reviewing it, since I’ve had the pleasure of following the band since 2001 and their very first demo.
“Beneath” was originally released in 2012 through Iron On Iron Records. This year, as part of the band’s collaboration with Steel Gallery Records, the album sees a new reissue. As is usually the case with Steel Gallery releases, this edition comes with several extras. There are five additional tracks included, three of them recorded live, as well as an extensive booklet. These are more than good reasons to invest in this version of the album, even if you already own the original release.
Musically speaking, for those who have not yet discovered this band from Grevena, “Beneath” was their first “major” album following their 2009 debut “The Human Liberty.” Here the band takes several steps forward in terms of songwriting. Their style remains dark power metal with a strong American influence, but at the same time we encounter more complex and multi-layered compositions.
Songs such as “The Battlefield Calling My Name,” “Sometimes,” and “The Voyage” are truly top-tier material, although they unfortunately lose a few points due to the somewhat weak production. Still, this does nothing to diminish their value or overall quality. The original material is excellent, and the bonus tracks serve as the icing on the cake.
If you want to begin your journey into Dark Nightmare’s music, I would say that “Beneath” is the perfect starting point.
