Beyond God - Dark Light of Dawn

Artist: Beyond God

Album: Dark Light of Dawn

Label: self-published

Genre: symphonic metal

Started with ideas of drummer Ferry Guns in 2008, then formed into a band Beyond God in 2011, Dark Light of Dawn is the first EP of this relatively new Dutch symphonic metal band.

Unlike most symphonic metal bands, where layers of keyboards are added after composing the guitar riffs, Beyond God starts from the symphonic and classical parts of their music, and then add the metal instrumentation to the songs.

The music on Dark Light of Dawn is a type of symphonic metal that more closely parallels popular classic music and musical than the bombastic heaviness that is typically perused by symphonic metal bands. Here and there, a hint of jazz even looms around the corner.

The focal point of Dark Light of Dawn are the vocals by Cynthia Knoch, who effortlessly and skilfully meanders from classical singing to pop singing. At times, the narrative in the music and vocals is reminiscent of Invisible Circles by After Forever. Edenbridge is another band of which the early recordings bear similarity to the music of Beyond God.

By times more bordering symphonic rock or easy listening than metal, Dark Light of Dawn might be more suitable for listening to in the comfort of your own home than headbanging to at a gig.

Dark Light of Dawn is an EP that consists of 4 tracks. The opening track “Destination Darkness” brings light, symphonic metal in a mid tempo and is the most metal-like track of the album. The subsequent “Memories” opens with a haunting choir, after which a slower, more atmospheric track follows on which the vocals catch all the attention.

“Passion” opens full force, but then quickly falls to a slower tempo to make space for more vocal fireworks. The closing track “Nocturne” is a ballad: not a power ballad as most metal bands compose, but a ballad that could have walked right off the stage of a Broadway musical.

To sum it up: if you like the symphonic part in symphonic metal, or the music of The Renaissance, then Dark Light of Dawn by Beyond God is something you should check out. Also, if you like hearing a skilled female singer, Beyond God is your new homework. 

Buy Beyond God – Dark Light of Dawn