AUTOGRAPH – Beyond

November 22, 2022 Bryce Van Patten Album Reviews, Reviews 0
Autograph - Beyond album cover art
  • 6.9/10
    AUTOGRAPH - Beyond - 6.9/10
6.9/10

Summary

Label: Frontiers Music SRL
Release date: November 18, 2022

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Autograph, the platinum-selling Southern California Hard Rock band who gave the world the hit “Turn Up The Radio”, has released Beyond on Frontiers Music Srl. The new album features vocalist Simon Daniels, guitarist Jimi Bell, drummer Marc Wieland and the final recorded work of founding bassist Randy Rand. With Steve Lynch leaving the band in 2019, and the sad passing of Randy Rand in April of 2022, the current lineup of Autograph has no original members left.

Farewell to Randy Rand

On January 31, 2022, Frontiers Music Srl made an announcement welcoming the legendary 80s hard rockers Autograph to the label’s roster. Just past mid-April 2022, Randy delivered the final masters and artwork for Beyond and was sorting out plans for the release with the label when he received some bad news about his health. Shockingly, just a few days later on April 26, 2022, Randy Rand passed away.

Randy Rand photo from the 1980s - RIP
Founding Bassist for Autograph – Randy Rand 1952 – 2022.

Final Notes

The album contains 13 tracks that in many ways take us straight back to the 80s, with the gated snare drum and heavy reverb that were a big part of the Hair Metal Sound back in the day. The songs are all well constructed, if a little underwhelming on first listen. The guitar work by Jimi Bell is excellent, and Marc Wieland’s drums add a heavier sound to the band. Overall, it’s nothing to jump up and down about, but does have some good rockers to enjoy. It’s uncertain what the future holds in store for Autograph now, with no original members they may fall more into the “Tribute Band” category. Autograph fans are sure to find good things on Beyond, and a last chance to enjoy the work of Randy Rand who will be missed.

Autograph band photo.

Lineup

Simon Daniels – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Marc Wieland – drums
Jimi Bell – lead guitar, backing vocals
Randy Rand – bass (RIP)

Beyond – Tracklist

01. This Ain’t The Place I Wanna Be
02. Your Slave Tonight
03. Everything
04. Gotta Getcha
05. Take Me Higher
06. Run For Your Life
07. Beautiful Disaster
08. Love Is A Double Edge Sword
09. Heart Of Stone
10. Feels So Good
11. Flying High
12. To Be Together
13. Mind Of Fear (Bonus Track Digital only)

Author

  • Bryce Van Patten

    Bryce is an audio engineer and a graphic designer here at Metal Express Radio. From the day he purchased his first album (Machine Head by Deep Purple), he has had a passion for heavy music, which has influenced his whole life. Bryce is from the great Pacific Northwest in USA, and has played in metal bands like Babylon, Holy Terror, The Wild Dogs, Warhead and Egypt through the 80s. He had his first interview for the Portland, Oregon publication The Rock Rag with guitarist Paul Gilbert in his Racer X days. Then he was honored to get to have drinks, and talk for an hour with the legendary Dan McCafferty of Nazareth for his second interview. In 2013, he spent an amazing hour talking to Andi Deris of Helloween, which was the high point of his heavy metal journalism.   In the year 2001, he formed Man in Black Music Publishing. They released recordings by several local bands, and in the spirit of the old Metal Massacre compilations, he created a 2-album series called The Defenders of Metal. The albums featured classic styled Metal bands from all around the world, with bands from Australia to England, and from Argentina to Russia. Currently, he is the producer/creator/vocalist of the Metal band The Black Tuesdays.

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