Reviewer: Chris

Beyond the Threshold of Death is the premiere effort from Germany’s Lifeless, a band intent on utilizing the old death metal sound to its full potential. Originally self-released in ’08, the album was then criminally limited to 500 copies. With a new deal with Ibex Moon Records more fortunate people will get the chance to hear a well-produced death metal experience that both crotchety old-schoolers and impressionable newer fans will find intriguing. 

It’s refreshing to hear a death metal vocalist actually enunciate his way through the lyrics as opposed to the unintelligible guttural growling through songs too many bands are reliant on for my taste. I’m also hearing some Tom G. Warrior in a lot of bands these days (maybe it’s just my old man’s ear) and vocalist Marc has the same sound only more versed in the gruff delivery, so to speak. The band manages to convey a true spirit of the classic Swedish death sound through the entire release, making for a welcome and credible offering. With a myriad of personal issues plaguing the band from its inception back in ’04 the band persevered and offers a 30-minute death trip worthy of its ancient predecessors.

I continuously say that I wish we had the production and recording devices back in the day so widely available today. I can’t even begin to imagine how a band like Venom, Sodom or early Kreator might have sounded with today’s equipment (a budget over $200 might have helped as well). The production values on Beyond the Threshold of Death are really good; there’s a good amount of bass to be heard, the right amount of low end and the drums never sound like they’re overpowering the music (this is all too often problematic to my ears). The guitar work in “Retaliation” particularly stands out for me with its essential speedy, yet morose-sounding chord changes that remind me of Sweden’s Bloodbath.

Within this mix of damn fine songs is an excellent cover of Dismember’s “Casket Garden,” along with my standouts “Entombed in Unknown Graves” and “Under the Sign of the Iron Cross.” For your death metal fix I’d say that Lifeless should be given more than just a casual notice. Fans of Bloodbath’s last couple of releases will certainly find Lifeless anything but.

Release Date: June 8, 2010
Label: Ibex Moon Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Intro
2.  Entombed in Unknown Graves
3.  Retaliation
4.  Seed of Hatred
5.  The Final Sacrifice
6.  Beyond the Threshold of Death
7.  Under the Sign of the Iron Cross
8.  In the End...(of Life)

Total playing time: 33:46

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Lifeless - Beyond the Threshold of Death

June 6, 2010