Beyond Salvation - Scarbearer

Review originally posted on Heaps of Metal 20.05.19




Beyond Salvation is a Manchester based metal band founded in 2014. The bands current lineup is Jon Pedley - Vocals and Guitar, Karl Stone - Bass, Simeon Moore - Drums and Arun Kamath - Guitar.
The bands sound focuses on thrash metal, but draws also inspiration from hardcore, particularly in the vocals, and also has, to my ears, some metalcore and Goethenburg melodic death metal inspiration, reminding me of bands like In Flames and Soilwork. My thoughts also go to newer Testament and the thrashier songs of Iced EarthThe lyrical theme of the songs is described by the band to focus on the concept of finding a positive from a neagative, sorrow out of despair.

“Scarbearer” was released 3rd of May 2019. It is Beyond Salvations 3rd offering, the first two being the EP “Ascension”, which was released in May 2016, and then the single “Betrayer” in May 2017.
Being just short of 27 minutes, and containing 5 songs, I would say this is an EP rather than a full album. The production on this record is good, with all instruments sitting well in the mix.

Most of the songs on “Scarbearer” are mostly uptempo with fast drumming and fast riffing, and place themselves somewhere between thrash and hardcore. There are some interesting rhythmic breaks, and I like how they switch between slow and fast riffs in the same song. There are also some good, technical solos, and some very nice acoustic or clean guitar parts in the songs that make them more interesting for me.

There is some great riffing on this EP, and I think the songs are at their best when the band slows down a bit, and turns away from the hardcore influences to give way to heavy metal, which actually they make sound heavier than when they thrash on. On these parts they have more emphasis on groove and feeling, which make those parts of the song breathe more and come off as heavier.

Comparing with their first EP, “Ascension”, the newer songs seem to have more hardcore and thrash, while the old are more death metal. The vocal is stronger on the new songs, and the production has improved.
Personally, I like the vocals on this EP that draw inspiration from metal rather than the shouting vocals that draw inspiration from hardcore.
I would say the band is at it’s best when they focus on melodies and draw from Gothenburg death metal, and for me the least interesting when they let themselves be inspired by hardcore.

link to bands facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondsalvationthrash/
link to bands bandcamp: https://beyondsalvation.bandcamp.com/ 

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