OLD SEASON – Beyond The Black

Beyond The Black is the third release from Ireland’s Epic Metal band Old Season, and the first on new label Pure Steel Records.  Beyond The Black pulls from a number of influences, with tastes of Doom Metal, Melodic Metal, and New Wave Of British Heavy Metal evident throughout.  With an average track length of 6:30, Old Season falls firmly in the genre of Epic Metal, and the longest of them, “Nevermore,” clocks in at a whopping 9:03.

Vocalist John Bonham turns in a solid performance, at times evoking King Diamond in the upper registers, and often comparable to Michael Sweet of Stryper, but lacking vibrato. Jimmy Blanchfield and Jimmy Kiernan turn in solid rhythm guitar performances, with lead breaks that vary from very “well done” to “not bad”. Dermod Smyth’s keyboard parts are well done, and Dave Copley’s bass is solid, although not very prominent in the mix. Anto Walsh’s drum parts are basic and uninteresting for the most part, the vocals sound thin and buried somewhat, and the overall mix sounds incomplete.  There are also slight timing errors throughout.

Despite those shortcomings, Beyond The Black is worth a listen for fans of Epic Metal and Doom Metal.

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