Review Summary: Astounding technical skill and top notch songwriting allows Beyond Creation to enter the technical death metal scene as formidable challengers to the giants of the genre.
Members:
Dominic "Forest" Lapointe - Bass
Guyot Begin-Benoit - Drums
Kévin Chartré - Guitars
Simon Girard - Vocals, Guitar
From the opening minutes of “The Aura”, Beyond Creation set out to craft an album that aims to couple unassuming technicality with a not-too melodious sound that can be seen in bands like Neuraxis and Augury. The pressing question therefore is: Do they pull it off?
For the most part,yes they do. “The Aura” features blindingly fast guitar solos, brilliantly executed bass lines and inhumanly fast drumming combined with progressive elements that give melody a fair share in the music. It can be concluded even during the first listen that the lead guitars are in good hands. Simon Girard and Kevin Chartre weave in and out of the songs almost effortlessly, deftly showcasing both speed and deliberation whenever the need for either arises.
The percussion in “The Aura” is up to the standards that the genre requires and sometimes even surpasses them. Drummer Guyot Begin-Benoit shows admirable physical talent that helps him execute the daunting drum patterns in the album along with infusing the required aggression into the music that sometimes plays a pivotal role in transforming a good song to a great one. In an album where tempo changes are as frequent as guitar solos, Begin-Benoit’s ability to ease from one speed to another is integral when it comes to maintaining the flow of the music.
As competent as the musicians of Beyond Creation are, however, if there is anybody in the lineup who is going to steal the limelight from the others, it is going to be Dominic “Forest” Lapointe. Forest’s astonishing technique in employing his 6-string guitar and the unique tone of his instrument is quite a treat to hear amidst the already above par sound of his band members. Thankfully, Forest’s bass is sometimes featured in the forefront of the music and as expected shines admirably. “Omnipresent” benefits the most from such a display of the virtuosic bass guitar.
Speaking of the bass guitar as such, the main reason it gets the credit it deserves is due to the crystal clean production that manages to make sure each and every instrument is heard cleanly in the mix. Every portion of the sound starting from the rampaging opener “No Request for The Corrupted” to the progressive eleven minute closer “The Deported” is presented smartly and clearly. The vocals of the album are pretty much the standard fare with Girard providing growls and shrieks wherever necessary. While the vocals aren’t terribly new or innovative, they don’t detract from the music.
As a technical death metal band, one of the main goals to achieve apart from creating and playing difficult pieces at terrifying speeds is avoiding redundancy. Beyond Creation manages to accomplish that in “The Aura”. No guitar riff seems outdated by any of its counterparts in any of the songs that the bass lines sound original and are well executed. The exemplary nature of the album makes it virtually impossible to pick a standout track. On the whole, “The Aura” is a stellar debut from these talented Canadians that will leave its listeners battered and bruised from the aural assault and yet masochistically craving for more.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
