DENIAL OF GOD — Death and the Beyond (review)

DENIAL OF GOD — Death and the Beyond album cover Album · 2012 · Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Time Signature
Bones turn to dust...

Genre: melodic black metal

Although this Danish black metal band have been around since the early 1990s - and thus one of the early bands in the second wave of black metal - "Death and the Beyond" is only their second full length album (they have, it should be noted, released a string of demos and EPs).

As black metal developed in a lot of different directions, Denial of God followed the more melodic path which manifests itself on this album in the form of a type of black metal that is rich in melody and borders on the epic.

In addition to more traditional black metal blasting-and-tremolo-picking, which is decidedly melodic, often with a lead guitar on top of the tremolo figure performing a memorable melodic lead (just check 'Behind the Coffin's Lid'), Denial of God draw a lot on both classic heavy metal and on doom metal, and this combination works quite well. At times, the melodies are almost folksy or uplifting, while melancholic at other times. Incorporating atmospheric and calm passages into their music, Denial of God also add a sense of dynamism to some of the tracks on the album.

While lacking the intensity of rawer black metal, "Death and the Beyond" teems with melody and dark atmosphere, reflecting very solid solid musicianship and a band who knows exactly what they are aiming for with their music and how to achieve it. The songs are fairly long and take their time. While a track like the heavy 'Funeral' is characterized by repetition of powerful figures, 'Bones Turn to Dust', 'Black Dethe', 'Spectral Lights', and 'Pendulum Swings' are epic, atmospheric and very compelling.

While those who prefer their black metal raw and dirty might not like this album, you should give Denial of God's "Death and the Beyond" a listen if you are into black metal which is melodic without being depressive and if you are not afraid of a slight gothic atmosphere.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

A Sonication Technical Death Metal
OBSCURA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us