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Beyond The Bridge are a progressive metal
band from Germany and this is their first release. The writing and recording
process for the “Old Man & The Spirit” has definitely been a labour of love
for writers Peter Degenfeld-Schonburg (guitars) and Christopher Tarnow
(keyboards) with the concept for the album originating back around 2005 and the
first studio recordings starting in 2008.
The band is
completed by Dominik Stotzem (bass), Fabian Maier (drums) and Simon Oberender
(guitar, keyboards) together with vocalists Herbie Langhans and Dilenya Mar.
To be honest I’ve
not heard of any of the personnel involved but Herbie Langhans has extensive
recording experience with both Sinbreed (traditional German power metal) and
Seventh Avenue (Christian metal). Dilenya Mar was brought in after being seen
singing jazz by Peter Degenfield-Schonburg and what a find she is.
“The Old Man and
The Spirit” is a concept album dealing with the Old Man (Herbie Langhans) who
has lived a long life and felt much as a human and the Spirit (Dilenya Mar) who
is a god-like presence who knows everything but can feel nothing. As the album
progresses the story of how they interact and share things that on their own
they cannot.
The album brings
to mind a mix of Dream Theater, Spock’s Beard, Vanden Plas and Ayreon together
with the best of a West End musical (Jesus Christ Superstar for instance). The
musical ability of all involved is stunning and the production faultless.
The album
immerses you from the beginning through to the end with no weak parts. Opener
“The Call” brings the story to life with Herbie’s powerful vocals against a
Dream Theater backdrop. Dilenya’s appearance as the Spirit in “the Apparition”
and the a cappella section of “Doorway to Salvation” are simply stunning. The
vocal interplay between the Old Man and the Spirit forms the backbone of the
album and is breathtaking at times especially on “The Struggle” which even
starts off sounding a little like System Of A Down. The big ballad “Where the
Earth and Sky Meet” occurs before album closer “All a Man Can Do” top things
off nicely.
Overall a highly
complex concept album which you will keep coming back to time and time again.
Phil Berisford
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