Review BEYOND THE BLACK “Break the Silence”

The freshly minted album, bearing the title “Break the Silence”, is the latest offering from Beyond The Black. The German symphonic metal outfit, with Jennifer Haben being the driving force, launch their sixth studio effort, which features ten new songs.

Playing their first show at Wacken Open Air is something that not many bands can add to their record. It marked the beginning of a musical endeavour that has enjoyed considerable success. Their latest release, “Beyond the Black” ranked second in the German charts, following the success of previous releases.

Now, it is up to “Break the Silence” to continue this musical adventure. Since the new album builds on the successful formula of big melodies, hard-hitting moments and soul-pleasing ballads, “Break the Silence” also has the potential to make an impact in the charts.

“Break the Silence” takes a conceptual approach to lyrics. The main lyrical pillars of the album are communication, the ability to reconnect in a divided world, resilience and inner strength, reflected in songs such as “Let There Be Rain” and “Ravens”. Words are important even if they aren’t spoken out loud, as they shape our reality.

Musically, not much has changed in the last three years, as evidenced by the title track. With its catchy melody, solid riff power and Haben’s vocals, the song is a prime example of Beyond The Black’s musical identity. With the addition of some dramatic elements, the song reflects exactly what fans expect from their favorite band.

“Rising High” follows a similar principle, but also comes with a few twists, such as the unusual beginning featuring distorted vocals.

The album also features guest appearances, with “The Art of Being Alone” being the first track belonging to this category. Lord of the Lost contributed to this darker song, and Chris Harms’s vocals complement it perfectly.

This is followed by the thumping, ethno-infused “Let There Be Rain”, which leads into the first ballad of the album. “Ravens” is a soulful moment, while “The Flood” brings back a gloomy mood.

“Break the Silence” includes two songs with non-English titles. The first of these is “(La vie est un) Cinéma”, which, although featuring a small new twist thanks to the French chorus, follows the musical principles of Beyond The Black. In a way, this also exemplifies the approach to the album. Relying on trademarks while adding variations is what characterises “Break the Silence” After breaking the silence with a few fierce melodic metal songs, the finale is calm and gentle. “Weltschmerz”, the other song with a non-English title, provides a dramatic ending to the album. With vocals kept in German, it is an unusual ending, with Haben’s performance being the core asset.

“Break the Silence” is the anticipated next release from the German symphonic metal outfit. Not many surprises are to be found on the album, which still includes some little details that add to the entertainment. Beyond The Black have found their musical formula and are sticking to it. These ten ear-pleasing songs are well designed, and adding a few more edges could have made them even better. Nevertheless, the appealing hooks are difficult to ignore.