Upon the first chords of Beyond Light’s Eclipsed Sun Path the Burzum worship seems abundantly prevalent. I’m not sure if that’s what the band was going for, but the eerie similarities to the first two Burzum full-lengths are too noticeable to ignore, right down to the low-fi production and pained, unorthodox screams. It’s basically a one-man show hailing from the Netherlands and it’s not so bad once really swallowed whole.

The music on Eclipsed Sun Path is pretty straight-forward black metal on the old ‘necro sound’ setting; it harkens back to an era long heralded, long abused and molested, and all but left for dead medium. Flat out, if you like old Burzum with hints of depressive, somber parts thrown in for good measure then Beyond Light will excite and interest you. As I’m moving along a second listen I’m finding myself enjoying it a bit more simply because I covet this period of black metal (well, the only true period in my opinion). As I said, the demographic is set in stone and pretty unmovable in that regard; if you like the ancient sound you’ll dig this one. The vocals are not nearly as intolerable as Count Grishnackht’s early on, but there’s a breathy ambience to them that is undeniably enticing. The sort of ethereal feel to them more or less opens a chasm of darkness that is quite part-and-parcel with the black metal movement of today, but it works out well so it’s not so annoying once you settle into this. 

Another highlight of this release is the wonderfully hypnotic clean-tone guitars that set the feelings of depression and forlorn surrender in tracks like “Sealed in Yesterday”, which is something Opeth might have tried in its Morningrise era; that’s not to say it’s of that caliber, but it’s a feeling along similar lines of study. From the faster tracks like “Blackened Sunlight” to the slower serenity of the first part of “Shades Sediment” this album can pull you in with its somewhat pedestrian charm housed in the confines of a dimly lit forest of past glories and ghosts from a distant past. For what it is, you can get into it pretty nicely if you’re going in knowing that you have certainly heard this somewhere before.

So far this label Sun & Moon might have some decent bands on its roster; if you like you black metal without any frills or deviation from the formula, you’ll like Beyond Light for what it is in its basest form.

TRACK LISTING

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

*Comments:

1.  Penumbra I
2.  Blackened Sunligh
3.  Eclipsed Sun Path
4.  Penumbra II
5.  Sealed in Yesterday
6.  Shades Sediment
7.  Penumbra III
8.  Empty
9.  Penumbra IV

Total playing time:  42:19

Release Date: November 5, 2010
Label: Sun & Moon Records

Beyond Light - Eclipsed Sun Path

Reviewer: Chris

September 27, 2011