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Album Reviews : Beyond Terror Beyond Grace – Nadir

By on June 14, 2012

Nadir sounded interesting as soon as the first few pieces of information hit the internet. In the past, the average Beyond Terror Beyond Grace song would hover around the two minute mark and be largely based around the ferocity of grind. Their 2010 album Our Ashes Built Mountain did head in a more atmospheric direction, but not like this. With only seven tracks, and three breaking the eight minute mark, the Sydney band have really changed things up, and it works.

Hit up Youtube, Last.fm or any number of other sites and you’re bound to see people going “oh look, it’s Ulcerate”, but don’t let that put you off. While the foundation of the album is the same dissonant style of death metal that Ulcerate perfected on The Destroyers Of All, Beyond Terror Beyond Grace have taken a somewhat less abrasive approach. It still sounds eerie and inhuman, but Nadir is surprisingly lush. The vocals are monstrous, and the whole mix quite thick. The contrast between high and low points is fantastic, with slight changes in mood but a very consistent overall sound.

Oddly enough, some of the climaxes even have a touch of post-rock bliss to them; more in the way that you’ll close your eyes and be taken away, than anything else. The three minute title in particular (and “The Blood of Time”, to a lesser degree) brings that style to the forefront, with an ambient beginning and spoken samples leading towards an absolutely gorgeous wall-of-noise.

Nadir is simply a superb album. It’s extremely well balanced, with the first three intense tracks making way for a more atmospheric last half. Like Encircling Sea’s Ecru and Adrift For Days’ The Lunar Maria, this is a journey from start to finish rather than just a collection of songs. Beyond Terror Beyond Grace have hit new heights. The tough part now, is moving any higher. 9/10

Band: Beyond Terror Beyond Grace
Album: Nadir
Year: 2012
Genre: Atmospheric death metal
Origin: Sydney, Australia
Label: Willowtip Records

Track list:
1. Dusk
2. Requiem For The Grey
3. Throatless Sirens
4. Nadir
5. Embracing Null
6. The Blood of Time
7. Pathea

About

Mitch Booth is the owner, designer and grand overlord of Metal Obsession. In the few seconds of spare time he has outside of this site, he also hosts a metal radio show over on PBS 106.7fm in Melbourne (Australia) and organises shows under the name Untitled Touring. You should follow him on Twitter.